Poison Ivy Removal Services in Birmingham, AL

Poison Ivy Removal Titans clears poison ivy from yards, fence lines, alleys and tree trunks in Birmingham, AL and across Jefferson County. Close to 6 in 10 homes here are detached houses with a yard, and Alabama's extension service says that if you look up at the trees around your property, you'll more than likely see big poison ivy vines on the trunks. So a typical job here is saw work on trees plus spraying or digging below. Contact us now for a free estimate.

How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost in Birmingham, AL?

Poison ivy removal in Birmingham costs anywhere from $280 to $640 on average for a typical residential yard. Tree vines move the price most. About 43 percent of Birmingham homes were built before 1960, and the big trees around them carry old vines that have to be cut trunk by trunk. Hand digging, alley clearing and return visits add time. Haul-away is in our price, since the City won't haul trees cut down by private contractors. Send photos for a firm figure.

Who Removes Poison Ivy in Birmingham?

Landscapers, lawn spray companies and tree services do most of it. Our searches turned up no Birmingham company with a page about poison ivy removal, and a national list of poison ivy specialists has one Alabama entry, a lawn treatment company. We handle the whole job: vines, roots, bagging and haul-away.

What Parts of Birmingham Do You Cover?

All of it. The City lists 99 neighborhoods and we work in each one, from Roebuck, Huffman and South East Lake on the east side to Ensley, Wylam and Belview Heights on the west, with Norwood, Smithfield, Woodlawn, Forest Park, Highland Park and Glen Iris in between. Birmingham covers about 147 square miles, so send the address.

Which Birmingham ZIP Codes Do You Serve?

Every Birmingham ZIP code. Poison ivy has been logged in 35206 around South Eastlake and in 35211 at Garden Highlands, and we also work in 35203, 35204, 35205, 35207, 35208, 35209, 35210, 35212, 35213, 35214, 35215, 35217, 35218, 35221, 35222, 35224, 35228, 35233, 35234, 35235, 35242 and 35243.

Do You Cover Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood and the Rest of Jefferson County?

Yes. Poison ivy has been logged in Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Irondale, Trussville, Pinson, Leeds, Gardendale and Bessemer as well as inside Birmingham, and we work in all of them. Birmingham's brush pickup only covers households in the City's jurisdiction, so check your own town's rules.

When Is the Best Time to Remove Poison Ivy in Birmingham?

April through October for spraying, since herbicide works through the leaves. The last freeze here typically comes around March 21, and logged sightings in the county jump from 13 in March to 118 in April. For thick vines we like September and October, the two driest months in Birmingham. Alabama's extension service says brush control is often most effective in fall.

How Soon Can You Come Out?

Within a week in most cases, though April and May fill up first. Spraying needs a dry, calm day, and Birmingham gets rain on 9 or 10 days in each of those months and about 12 days in July. In midsummer we spray in the morning, since July highs average 91 degrees.

What Do You Need From Me for a Quote?

The address, a few photos, a rough size for the patch and what it's growing on: fence, shed, shrubs, lawn or trees. Tell us if the lot backs onto an alley, a creek or an empty lot.

Do You Remove the Roots, and Will It Come Back?

Yes. We dig the roots up or spray a systemic herbicide that the leaves carry down to them. Plan on two visits about a month apart. The big vines up in the trees make the most seed and draw the birds that spread it, so we treat those too.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Vines From My Trees?

Yes. Alabama's extension service says the vines can grow more than 2 inches thick, and a study of old forest in north Alabama found poison ivy on 38 percent of the trees over 4 inches across. We cut each vine at the base with loppers and treat the stump.

How Common Is Poison Ivy in Birmingham?

Common enough that volunteers have logged it more than 330 times in Jefferson County, at Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, the Vulcan Trail, Avondale Park, George Ward Park, the Birmingham Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. Ordinary streets show up too, in South Eastlake, Roebuck, Redmont Park, Woodlawn and Huffman.

Where Does Poison Ivy Grow in Birmingham Yards?

Along the edges: back fences, alleys, creek banks and the base of big trees. Alabama's extension service says it is especially common in wooded areas, along forest edges and in urban green spaces. The Red Rock Trail System follows Village Creek, Valley Creek, Five Mile Creek, Shades Creek, the Cahaba River and Turkey Creek, with 175 miles of trail built across the county.

Which Grows in Birmingham: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak or Poison Sumac?

Almost always poison ivy. Jefferson County has more than 330 logged sightings of poison ivy, 6 of poison oak and none of poison sumac. Alabama's poison oak is a shrub up to 3 feet tall that grows in dry pine and scrub oak woods, and poison sumac is a swamp shrub with 7 to 15 leaflets.

Do You Need a License to Spray Poison Ivy in Alabama?

Yes. A business that sprays yards for hire in Alabama needs a Horticulture Professional Services License from the Department of Agriculture and Industries. It costs $175 a year and runs from October 1 to September 30. You can look a company up by name, county or permit number in the department's online Pesticide Applicator Search.

Do You Haul the Poison Ivy Away?

Yes, every time. Birmingham Public Works says the City will not haul trees cut down by private contractors, so what a hired crew cuts is the crew's to take. We bag the vines and roots and leave nothing at your curb.

How Do I Get Rid of Poison Ivy I Pulled Myself in Birmingham?

Bag it. Public Works asks residents to bag all trash and leaves, and each neighborhood gets a bulk trash and brush pickup twice a month. Extra bags can go to the roll-offs at the City's four waste district sites. The City's pages don't mention poison ivy, so ask 311 if you're unsure.

Is It Legal to Burn Poison Ivy in Birmingham?

No, not for most of the year. The Jefferson County Department of Health prohibits open burning in the county from April through October, and burning in the other months needs the department's approval first. In any month, the oil goes airborne in the smoke and can swell your airways.

What Can I Do About Poison Ivy Coming From My Neighbor's Yard?

Cut it back to the property line. In a 1989 case about trees, the Alabama Supreme Court said a landowner may remove limbs that hang over the property and roots that reach into it, as long as the work stays on their side of the boundary. That's a summary, not legal advice. We treat your side only.

What if the Poison Ivy Is Coming From a Vacant Lot Next Door?

Start with a 311 report on the lot. Nearly 1 in 5 housing units in Birmingham sits vacant, so this comes up a lot. Code Enforcement gives the owner 15 to 30 days to comply, and overgrown weeds on an unoccupied lot can be declared a nuisance by the City Council and cut by a contractor.

Does Birmingham Require Homeowners to Remove Poison Ivy?

No, not by name. The City's code enforcement pages don't mention poison ivy. They do list unmaintained lawns and overgrown vegetation among the things to check on your property, and complaints go through 311 and can end up in Environmental Court. Confirm the current rule with Code Enforcement.

Can I Hire You if I Rent My Home in Birmingham?

Yes, once the owner or property manager agrees. More than half of Birmingham households rent, about 55 percent, so we set this up often. Get the approval in writing and tell us who the estimate should go to.

How Long Does the Job Take, and Do I Need to Be Home?

Spraying a fence line or a few patches is quick work. Sawing vines off several trees or digging a bed out by hand can fill most of a day. You don't need to be there. Unlock the gate and keep dogs inside.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy From a Fence or the Alley Behind My House?

Yes. The City's property guide tells owners to maintain the alley and sidewalk as an extension of the property, so the alley side of your fence is yours to clear. We cut the vines at the ground and peel them off once dry. Fences and walls, even most repairs, need a permit here, so we don't pull boards loose.

Who Handles Poison Ivy in a City Park or Right of Way Next to My Yard?

The City does, through 311. Its Horticulture and Urban Forestry Division looks after more than 100 parks and major rights of way, while Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve are looked after by Jefferson County Greenways. If you'd rather the City not use herbicide beside your lot, 311 can add you to its no-spray list.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy in Winter in Birmingham?

Yes, the cutting and digging. Alabama's extension service says winter is the best time to cut vines, because there's less sap in them. Birmingham winters rarely stop work: January highs average in the mid 50s and a normal year brings under 2 inches of snow. Leaf spraying waits for April.

Can You Kill Poison Ivy in My Lawn Without Killing the Grass?

Yes, in most lawns. Alabama's extension service lists five grasses for home lawns in the state: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, tall fescue and zoysiagrass. Centipede and St. Augustine are the ones broadleaf weed killers hurt most easily, so tell us which grass you have and we'll match the product to it.

What Gets Mistaken for Poison Ivy Around Birmingham?

Virginia creeper, most often. It has been logged about 340 times in Jefferson County, a few more than poison ivy, and the two often grow together. Creeper usually has five leaflets, not three. Box elder seedlings and the hairy vine of climbing hydrangea fool people too.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Near Power Lines?

Yes, on the ground, the fence and the lower trunk. Alabama Power generally keeps a 30-foot easement under neighborhood lines, 15 feet either side, and manages it with herbicide and mowing. Leave anything touching the wires to the utility. We call 811 before digging out roots.

Will I See More Poison Ivy After a Tornado or Big Storm?

Yes, often. Poison ivy tends to increase after windstorms open up the tree canopy. The April 27, 2011 tornado crossed western Jefferson County and hit Smithfield Estates before lifting northeast of downtown, and the county logged 191 thunderstorm wind reports and 15 tornadoes from 2016 through 2025. Watch any new gap in your trees the next spring.