How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost?

Average Cost to Remove Poison Ivy

Labor Cost to Remove Poison Ivy

Poison ivy specialists typically charge $50 to $75 per hour. Note that if you have climbing poison ivy and the exterminator needs to use ladders to get it all, the cost will rise up to $100 per hour. You may also be charged travel fees at $25 to $40 per hour, so it makes good financial sense to hire a local weed control service to save money. 

The labor cost for removing poison ivy from a small tree or approximately 10 square feet averages around $500, including travel costs and the contractor's hourly rate and callout fee. This might also include disposal, but that's not always the case, so make sure you ask the contractor before you agree to their terms. If it's not included, disposing of poison ivy costs $25 per 10-pound bag.

Cost to Remove Poison Ivy by Location

The cost to remove poison ivy varies based on where the plant's growing. Out in the open, growing on open ground, poison ivy is easier to remove than if it's entwining itself through a fence or wrapping around a tree.

Cost to Get Rid of Poison Ivy in the Yard

Removing poison ivy from a yard costs an average of $300 per 10 square feet for a combination spray and manual removal. If the area is larger than this, the contractor can bill per 10 square feet or may charge an hourly rate for the extra removal at $50 to $100. 

Manual removal alone, which is the most eco-friendly but most time-consuming and can cost up to $500 for 10 square feet in a level, easy-to-access area like a yard.

It's important to remove poison ivy from your yard for the sake of your family and pets, because the active compound, urushiol, can cause a variety of unpleasant and sometimes dangerous reactions. This plant spreads quickly, so the longer you leave it, the worse and more costly the problem gets.

Price of Poison Ivy Ground Cover Removal

Just like removing it from a yard, getting rid of poison ivy that's growing as ground cover costs around $300 per 10 square feet for a spray and removal. When growing as ground cover, this invasive plant tends to creep along the ground, particularly around shrubs and bushes.

If the problem is extensive, you may get a reduced rate per square foot, or the contractor may bill you per hour. As with yard removal, if you opt for manual extraction, expect to pay around $500. For a simple application of herbicide, with no plant removal or disposal, you could pay as little as $250. 

Cost of Removing Poison Ivy From a Fence

Removing poison ivy from a fence costs an average of $350 per 10 square feet for spraying the visible plant then pulling out the root system. Full manual removal costs $500 to $600. Professional herbicide application with no removal could cost as little as $250.

Poison ivy growing up a fence is a more challenging and time-consuming removal than poison ivy growing on the ground, as the vines tend to entwine themselves around railing, pickets, and fence panels and, if left for long periods, can be quite destructive. Remember, if the fence is tall and the contractor has to use a ladder and work at height, you'll pay more than the average.

Price of Removing Poison Ivy From a Tree

Removing poison ivy from a tree costs around $500, assuming the tree is fairly small and the poison ivy growth isn't excessive. Herbicide application without removal may cost as little as $400 while full manual removal with no chemicals can run you up to $700. 

To stop poison ivy growing back, it's critical that all parts of the plant are removed from the tree, including foliage, stems, and roots. And this is particularly difficult around trees that have their own substantial root systems. Plus, having to work at height increases difficulty and danger, hence this type of poison ivy extermination is the most costly.

Price of Poison Ivy Removal by Type

There are two different types of poison ivy with different growth habits. Ground-growing poison ivy is less expensive to remove than climbing poison ivy. The climbing variety grows at height and entwines itself around wood, trees, fences, or anything else it can wrap its tendrils around, making it tougher to remove.

Ground Level

Ground-growing poison ivy typically costs $300 per 10 square feet for professional chemical application and removal. The shorter and slower growth habit makes ground-level poison ivy easier to remove and control, hence the reduced cost. 

Climbing

Getting rid of 10 square feet of climbing poison ivy costs around $500. It's more challenging to remove because it grows rapidly, wraps itself around anything it can find, and requires a pro to work at height to reach the uppermost vines. This rapid, tall, and destructive growth habit is why climbing poison ivy costs more to remove than its ground-dwelling relative.

Cost to Get Rid of Poison Ivy by Method

There are three different methods for getting rid of poison ivy, with the least expensive option being killing the plants with herbicide and the most expensive being manual removal of all plant parts. While you can hire a weed removal specialist, you may be able to hire a gardener to tackle small-scale poison ivy incursions.

Herbicide Use

Professional application of herbicide to kill poison ivy over an area of 10 square feet costs, on average, $300. While it's the lowest cost option, it's not the most effective, as the chemicals don't always penetrate far enough into the roots to kill the entire plant, so the ivy may come back. Additionally, depending on the chemicals in the product, herbicides could cause your pets or even family members to feel sick, can kill off other nearby plants that you want to keep, and can leach chemicals into the soil.

Manual Removal

Manual removal of poison ivy across 10 square feet costs around $700. While the most expensive option, it's the most effective and has the least detrimental environmental impact. 

The contractor digs up each plant and removes the entire root system. It's the most effective way to make sure poison ivy doesn't come back. But it's time-consuming and labor-intensive, hence the higher price tag. But consider that two herbicide treatments would run you $600 and, even after a second application, there's no guarantee that the plant won't grow back. So, although the initial outlay is higher, long-term, it's more cost-effective.

Combination Removal

Combination poison ivy removal costs approximately $500 for a 10-square-foot area and uses some herbicide along with some manual removal. The contractor uses herbicide to kill off as much of the above-ground growth as possible, and, once it's dead, they return to dig out the roots. 

Fewer chemicals are necessary, making this method more environmentally friendly, but, because herbicide is still used, it does have some negative environmental impact and poses the same risk as full herbicide removal. It is, however, a good balance of cost and efficacy.

DIY vs. Professional Poison Ivy Removal

While poison ivy removal seems like a simple job, you're still probably better off letting a professional tackle it. Chemical application is dangerous unless you know what you're doing. And poison ivy itself has the potential to cause you serious harm if you don't handle it carefully enough.

Sure, you can save on the cost of labor, but the work is difficult and has the potential for you to come into contact with poison ivy and have a bad reaction to the urushiol. Plus, if you're just using herbicide, the ivy will likely grow back pretty fast. And if you're doing manual removal, it's back-breaking work and requires you to get every last little tiny piece of root out.

On balance, it's smart to save yourself the work and hire a weed control specialist.

FAQs About Poison Ivy Removal

Is poison ivy dangerous?

If handled carefully, poison ivy is not dangerous, but the rash it leaves can be intensely itchy and painful. However, in some instances, such as if you have extreme sensitivity to the urushiol, inhale it, or ingest it, then yes, it can be dangerous, causing the tongue and throat to swell and causing digestive distress.

Where does poison ivy grow?

Poison ivy grows all across the United States, apart from Alaska and Hawaii. Although it can grow almost anywhere, you'll most commonly find poison ivy at the edge of woodland areas, where it gets a little sun. 

Is poison ivy the same as poison oak?

No, although often confused, poison ivy and poison oak are not the same. They can deliver the same nasty rash and allergic reaction, as they both contain urushiol, but they're different plants. Poison oak leaves look like regular oak leaves but grow lower down instead of on trees. It's also duller green than poison ivy with hairs on both sides of the leaves.

How do I stop poison ivy growing back?

The only sure-fire way of permanently getting rid of poison ivy is to get it out by the roots. Just spraying weed killer won't do the job. Instead, you need to remove all parts of the plant by hand, including every little bit of root. It's labor-intensive and the most expensive option, but it's the only removal method that works long-term.

Is there a pet-safe poison ivy killer?

Yes, there are some pet-friendly poison ivy killing products. Many products are safe for pets and kids once fully dry. However, asking your contractor for a truly pet-safe product lets you reduce the risk to your inquisitive pets should they come into contact with it before it's dry.