Poison Ivy Removal Services in Charlotte, NC

Poison Ivy Removal Titans clears poison ivy from back yards, wooded lot lines, tree trunks and commercial grounds in Charlotte, NC and the rest of Mecklenburg County. Trees cover about 47 percent of the city and a creek or greenway runs behind a lot of back fences, which is exactly where this vine does best. We kill it at the root by spraying, cutting and treating vines, or digging by hand, and we take the debris with us. Contact us now for a free estimate.

How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost in Charlotte, NC?

Poison ivy removal in Charlotte costs anywhere from $280 to $640 on average for a typical residential yard. The price moves most with how far the vines have climbed, because the poison ivy here runs up trees and fences, and with whether the patch sits beside a creek, where clearing is restricted and the work is slower. Hand digging instead of spraying, a lawn to protect and the haul-away add time too. Send us photos for a firm price.

Do You Remove Poison Ivy From Charlotte Homes, Rentals, and Commercial Properties?

Yes, we work on house lots, rental homes, apartment communities, HOA common areas and commercial grounds. About 51 percent of Charlotte's homes are detached houses, where the job is usually a back fence or a tree line. Roughly 35 percent are in buildings with five or more units, where it's more often a wooded edge beside a parking lot or path.

Which Charlotte Neighborhoods Do You Cover?

All of them, including Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, Wesley Heights, South End, Uptown, SouthPark, Ballantyne, Steele Creek and University City. Volunteer plant records put poison ivy everywhere from Dilworth and Plaza Midwood to Steele Creek. Tell us the neighborhood and what your lot backs onto.

Which Charlotte ZIP Codes Do You Serve?

Every ZIP code in the city, including 28269, 28277, 28273, 28215, 28208, 28216, 28214, 28262, 28226, 28210, 28205, 28211, 28209 and 28203. Charlotte spreads over about 312 square miles, so give us the ZIP code up front and we'll tell you how soon we can get to your side of town.

Do You Cover Matthews, Huntersville, and the Other Towns Around Charlotte?

Yes, we cover all six Mecklenburg County towns, which are Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson, plus nearby places like Concord, Mooresville, Belmont and Monroe. Send the address and we'll confirm it.

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

Spring through fall, while it has leaves. The last freeze at the Charlotte airport falls on March 30 in a typical year and the first on November 3, which gives a growing season of about 221 days. NC Extension agents say herbicide does best on new growth in early summer and again in late summer and early fall.

How Soon Can You Come Out?

Usually within a week. Spring and early summer fill up first, because that's when the new leaves show and people find it, so get on the schedule early. A small patch can often be priced from photos and treated on the first trip.

Do You Remove Poison Oak and Poison Sumac in Charlotte Too?

Yes, though what gets called poison oak here is nearly always poison ivy. NC State lists poison oak as another name for eastern poison ivy and says true poison oak is rarer in the Piedmont than on the coast. Volunteer plant records for Mecklenburg County show hundreds of poison ivy sightings, a handful of poison oak and no poison sumac.

Where Does Poison Ivy Grow Most in Charlotte?

Along creeks, greenways and wooded lot lines. Mecklenburg County has more than 85 miles of greenway trail following creeks like Little Sugar, McAlpine, Mallard and Briar, and volunteer plant records show poison ivy on the Toby Creek and McAlpine Creek greenways and in Reedy Creek Park. If your back fence faces one, walk it every spring.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Vines Growing Up My Trees?

Yes. Trees cover about 47 percent of Charlotte and the poison ivy here is the climbing kind, which NC State says can reach 60 to 150 feet. We cut each vine near the ground, take out a short section, treat the rooted stump and let the top die where it hangs, because ripping it off strips the bark.

What Do You Need From Me to Quote the Job?

The address, a few photos, roughly how big the patch is, and what it's growing on: lawn, bed, fence, tree or creek bank. Tell us what kind of grass you have and whether a vegetable garden, pond or play set is close by.

Do I Need to Be Home While You Work?

No, as long as the gate is open and pets are inside. We settle the area and the price with you ahead of time. Flag any sprinkler heads or invisible dog fence wire along the fence line so we don't cut them.

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

Yes, with your landlord's or property manager's go-ahead, since about 49 percent of Charlotte households rent and yard work is normally the owner's decision. North Carolina law, G.S. 42-42, makes landlords keep common areas in safe condition, so report poison ivy on a shared apartment path to management.

Will the Poison Ivy Come Back, and How Many Visits Does It Take?

Yes, some regrowth is normal, so plan on at least two visits. NC Extension puts it plainly: one herbicide application will not eliminate it. The first visit kills what's there and a follow-up about a month later catches shoots from surviving roots. Birds keep dropping new seed along fences, so nobody can promise it's gone for good.

How Long Does a Typical Job Take?

Spraying a typical yard is one short visit. Cutting vines off several trees or hand digging a long fence line can take most of a day. We'll give you a time estimate along with the price once we've seen photos.

Do You Need a License to Spray Poison Ivy in North Carolina?

Yes, anyone who applies pesticides for pay on another person's property in North Carolina must hold a commercial pesticide applicator license, usually in the turf and ornamental category. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a public license search, so ask any company for its number and look it up. Digging by hand involves no pesticide.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Along the Creek Behind My House?

Yes, in most cases, though creek banks here come with rules. Charlotte requires stream buffers of 35, 50 or 100 feet on each side, depending on the creek's size, and the 20 to 30 feet nearest the bank is meant to stay undisturbed. House lots platted before November 15, 1999 are generally exempt. Ask Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services before anything is cut there.

Can I Put Poison Ivy Out With My Charlotte Yard Waste?

No, we wouldn't. The city's yard waste rules don't mention poison ivy, but they only allow paper bags or containers up to 32 gallons, never plastic, and Mecklenburg County grinds yard waste into mulch and compost. We don't want collection crews handling loose vines in a paper bag, so we seal ours in plastic and haul it off as trash.

Is It Legal to Burn Poison Ivy in Charlotte?

No, and it's dangerous anywhere. The Charlotte Fire Department says recreational fires can't be used to burn leaves or other yard debris, and state rules allow yard waste burning only where there's no public pickup, which Charlotte provides once a week. State fines for illegal burning run up to $25,000, and NC State warns that breathing the smoke can be worse than touching the plant.

Does Charlotte Require Me to Remove Poison Ivy From My Yard?

No, not by name. The city's rule is general: grass, weeds and other vegetation can't be more than 12 inches tall under Section 10-155 of the city code, and citations start at $150. Poison ivy isn't on North Carolina's regulated noxious weed list either. Code Enforcement takes reports through CharMeck 311.

Can You Treat Poison Ivy in a Fescue or Bermuda Lawn?

Yes, we spot treat it with a broadleaf herbicide labeled for that grass. NC State calls tall fescue the grass best adapted to the Piedmont, and Bermuda and zoysia are grown here too. They don't all tolerate the same products, so tell us which you have.

Is the Spray Safe for My Kids and Pets?

Yes, in most cases, once it has dried on the leaves. Keep children and pets off the treated area until then, and we'll give you the re-entry instructions from the label of the product we use. If you'd rather have no herbicide at all, we can dig it out by hand.

Is a Charlotte Summer Too Hot or Wet for Spraying?

No, but we plan around it. July highs average about 90 degrees and it rains on about 10 days a month from June through August. We spray on calm, dry mornings so the herbicide can dry on the leaves, and we move the visit when storms are forecast.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy in Charlotte in the Winter?

Yes, winter is a good time for cutting and digging here. January highs average about 52 degrees and the city gets only about 3.5 inches of snow a year, so we can work most weeks. Spraying waits for spring leaves. Bare vines still carry the oil, so leave them to us.

Who Handles Poison Ivy in the Strip Between My Sidewalk and the Street?

You do, in most cases. The city says property owners must maintain grass and vegetation all the way to the curb, planting strip included. Street trees are different, since residents need a permit to maintain a tree in the right of way, so call 311 before anyone cuts a vine off one.

Why Is There So Much Poison Ivy Behind Newer Charlotte Subdivisions?

Because building into woods creates more of the forest edge it likes. About 43 percent of Charlotte's homes were built in 2000 or later, and newer lots often back onto saved trees or a creek buffer. U.S. Forest Service researchers expect poison ivy to increase as forests get broken up, and birds drop its seed along those edges every year.

What Plants Around Charlotte Get Mistaken for Poison Ivy?

Virginia creeper, box elder seedlings and peppervine, all on NC State's list of plants confused with poison ivy. Virginia creeper has five leaflets where poison ivy has three, and young box elder often has three leaflets that look just like it. We check before we treat, so send a close photo of the leaves and the stem.

Should I Leave Poison Ivy Alone at the Back of a Wooded Lot?

Yes, that's a fair choice where nobody walks. NC State notes that songbirds, deer and rabbits feed on it and says it can be left alone in native areas with low human activity. We'd still clear it from fence lines, paths, play areas and anywhere the dog runs, since pets carry the oil back to you.

How Do I Report Poison Ivy on a Greenway or in a County Park?

Call CharMeck 311, which takes requests for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. That department runs the greenways and almost 8,000 acres of nature preserves, and whether it removes a patch is its call. We work on private property, so we can clear your side of the fence but not the county's.