Q.Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper can create a rash FAR WORSE than Poison Ivy! For you to gloss over this is a HUGE disservice to gardeners everywhere! My daughter and I are highly sensitive to exposure. I wear long sleeves at all times out in the yard. My daughter is starting a second course of steroids from her exposure to it brought in by our dog! If I have any direct contact it’s a minimum of 2 and sometimes 3 rounds of steroids to get the rash under control! I have attempted to eradicate Virginia Creeper in my yard year after year. It is now overtaking my grapes and all vegetation along with the chimney, and south side of my house. It grows along my fence line and needs to be eliminated! You mention commercial strength Vinegar. It would be helpful to know what acidity ratio you are referring to! I’d appreciate any additional suggestions of chemicals to eliminate it from my property once and for all!
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
I do think that it should be addressed in the article. While it is extraordinarily rare (about 1 to 5 percent of the population) it is still a concern. I will pass on the information to the editors and writers, and they will be able to make some corrections. As for the vinegar solution- Generally you want to do 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar. You can add a few drops of dish soap to help it to stick to the plants. Keep in mind that this will cause the soil in the area to be just about uninhabitable for a while, and it is not selective. Any plants in the area will die, as well. You can try to pour boiling water on the area everyday and it will not stay around in the soil.
