



SERVICES
__________________________
Pictured below is William Bartlett, my Tree Specialist Eradicator. For the largest tree-climbing vines he uses a come-a-long to bring them down. He will also climb up a tree when he has to. He's tackled to the ground some thick, record-breaking vines. I'm posing with a large base of poison ivy roots that he pulled out for me. He's been in the business for over 30 years.

__________________________________
When I visit a poison ivy patch, I often dig up some rather interesting-looking roots. The way I explain the first one pictured below is this: when poison ivy roots are cut or ripped (you can see the cut in the first of the two photos), the sources of energy that would have normally flown through the runner, past that previously cut spot, have now bumped into a dead end. The energy collects and stores in that dead end by filling out into a root tuber. From that tuber (or rhizome), 4 or 5 roots may start out in multiple directions but also a tap-like root may begin to grow straight down, as a means to support survival of the plant under its newly threatened circumstances (of having been cut).
Therefore, ripping or trimming roots just down to the ground level (not digging them out) causes the root system to "bush out" underground. This is a similar process to when one trims a bush above ground in order for it to fill out and become more bushy. This is not something I recommend, that poison ivy roots be ripped out, mowed or otherwise cut at the ground level every year and maintained this way year-in and year-out. It creates a HUGE root system and eventually a greater magnitude to the job when finally digging the entire root system out.
__________________________________
__________________
You can see from the second photo that this root was dug out of a deep hole. When we measured the hole and the root itself, they measured nearly two feet. Poison ivy, in its undisturbed state, normally runs less than an inch under the earth's surface and fairly parallel to the ground. Any secondary roots growing off of a typical runner are only 4 or 5 inches in length and grow at an acute angle to the runner. Abberant roots like the one pictured are found to grow vertically, perpendicular to the earth's surface. When we start chasing a root that goes straight down like this, I feel that 8" is an adequate depth for digging the root out. Once past 8", a root often is too skinny for survival on it's own, especially at such a depth.
_________________________
__________________________
3. Tree Root Specialist - Where an old poison ivy climber has developed over many years, its particularly thick main roots are dug out (two-inch diameter or thicker) around the base of a tree and the climber is pulled off the tree as high as can be done with the assistance of a ladder.
4. Tree Climbing Specialist - A worker who climbs a tree to remove the vines that cannot be taken down from standing on the ground or on a ladder. This tree specialist can also remove the most humongous of vines that literally cannot be pulled off by human strength alone but require a winch on the back of a pickup truck.
5. Ripping - Ripping out poison ivy without the use of tools. By hand, pulling out as much of the root as possible. This is not a coomplete eradication since some roots may still remain in the ground. This quicker method is for clearing out a larger area of poison ivy in a shorter period of time. A 2nd visit is recommended to dig out all the roots.
9. Professional Training - A one-to-one professional training for an individual to bring back to their current company, go into the business of poison ivy removal for oneself, or to become a sub-contractor for "The Gloved Hand." This 6-hour training is divided into 3-hour sessions, each one on a separate day. Time will be spent handling and working with the poison ivy plant each day (wearing gloves).
10. Laboratory Workshop - Train groups in a fun and interactive way, incorporating three learning styles: watching, doing and verbally observing others practicing the protocol developed by "The Gloved Hand." These procedures are to keep everyone safe from exposure to the ivy's oil/resin, urushiol.
This workshop takes place on premises where there is poison ivy available for those in the workshop to try their hand at digging it out. Continuing the interaction of watching, doing, and verbalizing started in the Laboratory Workshop, "The Gloved Hand" will provide digging techniques and ongoing guidance to avoid the invisible culprit, urushiol, in all situations. (Note: bathroom breaks are before exposure to, or after cleanup from, the urushiol.)
My husband, Robert, had previously contracted a particularly severe case of the poison ivy rash which had required medical treatment, so I proceeded to clear out our new yard by myself. I found that the most comfortable method for me was to remove the entire root system by hand. The results were good, too. While under the tutelage of a knowledgeable Yankee farmer I learned techniques regarding weather conditions and seasonal changes that make for the most productive weeding. Now I am able to identify poison ivy in the dormant season when there are no leaves on the plant; I can eradicate poison ivy before the season even begins! I recommend keeping this in mind when hiring The Gloved Hand. As soon as the ground thaws in March, it is possible to get started. May and June are very busy months. Work continues on through spring, summer and again, autumn is also an excellent time for poison ivy eradication - right up until the ground freezes again!
After helping my husband out on our own property I began helping other relatives as well; and next, it was my neighbors calling. My business officially started for the public in 2009.
Digging in to eradicate poison ivy roots is not a good idea for those with a severe allergy to poison ivy; common sense is your best ally there. Contrary to what you might think, I am not one of those rare individuals who is blessed with a natural immunity to the plant. Armed with tenacity however, I now have protocols for my personal protection and can train DIY-ers to do the same.

___________________
