How to Get Rid of Poison Sumac

Poison sumac is a plant native to America that can cause an allergic rash called dermatitis. Poison sumac is in the same family as poison ivy and poison oak. These three plants contain an oil called urushiol that can cause an allergic rash within hours, days and even weeks after a person is exposed to it. For this reason, you must be very careful when trying to get rid of poison sumac. These plants are commonly found in wooded areas, but may crop up in your yard. You can remove them in a few simple steps using extreme caution.

Things You'll Need

• Long sleeved shirt
• Long pants
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Garden shears
• Herbicide

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Instructions

• 1

  Cover yourself before you start removing poison sumac. Wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and goggles. Tie your hair back if necessary. Use vinyl or leather gloves so the urushiol does not penetrate the glove. Revoloutionhealth.com also suggests a cotton glove covered with a plastic glove.

• 2

  Cut poison sumac plants down to the stump. You can also hand pull them out of the ground.

• 3

  Bag the cut and pulled plants immediately and securely seal the bag.

• 4

  Spray a herbicide directly on the roots and soil around the area the poison sumac was growing. Use a shielded sprayer to make sure you don't get the herbicide on other plants.

• 5

  Contact your local government to find out how to properly dispose of the poison sumac plants you bagged.