Iowa Poison Ivy Removal

09/04/2026

Labor Day Weekend ☀️🌻☀️is one of the Weekends during the summer when lots and lots of poison ivy exposures happen. For this weekend be prepared with:

1. A tube of Zanfel Poison Ivy Wash in your house - it can save you a trip to urgent care, stop itching in 30 seconds, and get the rash to heal quickly- available at Hy Vee, Walmart and great independent community pharmacies like Daniel Pharmacy, Mahaska Drug Medicap Pharmacy Urbandale

2. Learn what poison ivy 🍃 looks like, don't rely on AI. There are a ton of great pictures in this timeline feed.

3. Know the basics of prevention and treatment: check out this brochure: https://www.zanfel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ZAN102-AAFP-8-pg-Brochure_20150501.pdf

4. If you would like some assistance with removing 🪓 poison ivy from your landscape, we have just a few openings left this fall. Request service through this link: https://www.iowapoisonivy.com/contact

( Do to a high volume of requests, please be patient as we follow up with everyone)

09/03/2026

Hey Everybody, Tomorrow at Noon tune your Radio to 90.1 FM (here in the Des Moines area) to hear me on a segment of the River to River show on Iowa Public Radio!!

As you may have guess, I'll be talking about all things poison ivy here in Iowa!

If you're out of state you stream the program online.
The Podcast version will drop on Saturday Sept 5th.

River to River is a conversation about the news — from an Iowa perspective. Together, we dig into the story behind the headlines, talking with newsmakers and experts to find out how the news affects you. Ben Kieffer hosts this national award-winning program, which takes on challenging topics, expl...

09/01/2026

I feel incredibly honored by this article, thank you Axios, and great job to author Jason Clayworth!

Why one man spends his nights fighting Iowa's "poison ivy belt."

08/31/2026

We traveled to the Pacific Northwest during the past week and look what we found!

Using the notes of a famous poison ivy researcher, Dr. William Gillis, we found a location in the Columbia River Gorge where Poison Oak and Poison Ivy have overlapped and have been cross breeding for thousands of years, producing this Hybrid plant that is half Poison Oak and half Poison Ivy.

***Correction from video: Western half of state has Poison Oak, while the eastern half has Poison Ivy. We are in the overlap/Hybrid zone!

08/13/2026

This article in The Gardner News has some points that I agree with, and some that I don't.

Its not for everyone, but I wholeheartedly support the movement of folks to replace turf grass with Native Plants, or even to "re-wild" their yard, while at the same time maintaining those landscape choices such that they don't negatively impact your next door neighbors.

I agree that going to a low maintenance yard can allow poison ivy to spread, "And spread. And spread. It grows vertically up tree trunks. It tangles around the remnants of dry stems I left standing last season, and it creeps under ground covers to surface and unfurl in waves along wooded edges. It presses into garden paths to threaten feet in sandals". Discontinuation of mowing allows poison ivy to get a head start.

I disagree that Goats are the answer. While a herd of goats can devour a huge amount of brushy over growth, with poison ivy species, the goats do Not wind up pulling out the roots and ground vines. With the goats having just removed all of the competition from the area, poison ivy roots quickly push up new growth to take advantage of the new easy access to sunlight.

After the goats come through, having a pro follow up a few weeks later to slam dunk the poison ivy would be a wise choice!

Learning to identify poison ivy is something many New Englanders pick up at a young age. Dealing with it, however, still demands creative solutions.

08/12/2026

I have been so incredibly lucky to have some hard working, friendly, competent poison ivy removal technicians work with me during the last 12 years. This summer was no different.

Thank you Isaac and good luck as you return to the University or Arkansas for college this week!

08/06/2026

Poison Ivy leaves we encountered in a back yard in the Highland/Oak Park neighborhood of Des Moines at the home of a very nice couple.
HUGE Leaves!!!

07/31/2026

Poison Ivy "Tree" found in Waukee, Iowa back yard!

07/21/2026

Feeling very lucky to be here for a 2nd time this year (Attending Wilderness Medicine event for my Zanfel job). Interesting to find relatively newly germinated poison ivy w/seed leaves still attached.

By this time of year - lots of little black spots on injured leaves.

Finally, you'll notice there are Zero red colored leaf stems.

07/15/2026

Front yard maple tree freed from a multi-poison ivy vine infestation. Happy tree and happier homeowner! Waveland Hills Neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa.