Poison Ivy Removal Services in Lexington, KY

Poison Ivy Removal Titans removes poison ivy from yards, fence rows, tree trunks and creek banks in Lexington, KY and across Fayette County, for homes, rentals, horse farms and commercial grounds. The plant here is eastern poison ivy, which grows as a ground cover, a shrub and a climbing vine, and the spraying season runs from about mid-April, when the average last freeze passes, into October. Contact us now for a free estimate.

How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost in Lexington, KY?

Poison ivy removal in Lexington costs anywhere from $270 to $620 on average for a typical residential yard. What moves the price here is whether the ivy is on the ground or up a tree, how long the fence line or creek bank is, whether we spray it or dig it out by hand, and how many bags we haul away. Horse farm fence rows and big wooded lots in the rural part of the county are priced by the job. Send photos for a quote.

Who Removes Poison Ivy in Lexington?

We do. The University of Kentucky's advice for severe patches is to call landscapers or pest control services experienced in poison ivy removal, and that is the kind of crew we send. Spraying herbicide for pay in Kentucky takes a state applicator license, so ask to see it.

Which Lexington Neighborhoods Do You Cover?

We cover all of Lexington, including Chevy Chase, Ashland Park, Kenwick, Gratz Park, Gardenside, Lansdowne, Gainesway, Beaumont, Palomar Hills, Hartland, Andover Forest, Meadowthorpe and Masterson Station. Volunteers have logged poison ivy in Ashland Park, Gainesway, Idle Hour, Cardinal Valley and Belleau Woods, among others, so it is not a one-side-of-town problem.

What ZIP Codes Do You Serve in Fayette County?

We serve every Lexington ZIP code, including 40502, 40503, 40504, 40505, 40507, 40508, 40509, 40510, 40511, 40513, 40514, 40515, 40516 and 40517. The one that turns up most on local poison ivy sightings is 40515, which includes Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, followed by 40502. Send your ZIP with your photos.

Do You Cover Nicholasville, Georgetown, and Other Nearby Towns?

Yes, we take jobs across the Lexington metro area, which is Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, Woodford, Clark and Bourbon counties. That covers Nicholasville, Georgetown, Versailles, Winchester, Paris, Wilmore and Midway. Give us the address and we'll say whether we can reach it.

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

Mid-April through October, while the plant has leaves to take up spray. Lexington's average last freeze is April 14 and the first is October 27, and local sightings of poison ivy jump in April and peak in May. For glyphosate, the University of Kentucky recommends late summer through fall, when the plant is moving reserves down to its roots.

How Soon Can You Come Out?

Usually within a week or so, longer in April and May when the new leaves send everyone looking at once. May is also Lexington's wettest month, about 5.4 inches of rain over roughly 13 days, and we don't spray with rain close. Digging and vine cutting still go ahead on damp days.

What Do You Need From Me for a Quote?

The address, a few photos, and where it's growing: lawn, flower bed, fence, tree trunk or creek bank. Tell us roughly how long the fence run is, how many trees have vines, and whether a garden, a well or animals are close by.

Can I Get a Firm Price Before You Start?

Yes, we price the job from your photos or a walk of the property and agree the number before work begins. If there's more ivy than the photos showed, we check with you first.

Do You Dig Out the Roots, and Will It Grow Back?

Yes, we dig the roots out or use a systemic herbicide that travels down to them. The runners mostly sit only 4 to 6 inches deep, but any piece left behind can resprout, and University of Kentucky weed specialists note that cutting vines alone fails because the plant regrows from root buds. Expect a follow-up visit.

Where Does Poison Ivy Usually Grow in Lexington Yards?

Along back fences, under trees where birds roost, at the wooded edge of a lot, and in corners nobody mows. Those are the spots the University of Kentucky says to keep checking. It also favors creek banks and floodplains, and Lexington has seven urban watersheds, with more than 13 miles of streams in Wolf Run alone.

Can You Take Poison Ivy Vines Off My Trees?

Yes. Kentucky's poison ivy is the climbing kind, and the University of Kentucky says it often reaches into the tops of trees. Old stems can be up to 6 inches thick. We cut a section out near the ground, treat the lower cut so the roots die, and leave the upper vine to wither in place so the bark isn't torn.

Can You Clear Poison Ivy From a Horse Farm Fence Row?

Yes. Pastures, fence rows and the edges of woods are where University of Kentucky weed specialists say it grows on farms, and they note that mowing does not control it. Horses aren't sensitive to the oil, but they can pass it to the people handling them. We spray or dig the row and follow the label on keeping animals off.

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

Poison ivy. Volunteer plant records for Fayette County show eastern poison ivy all over the county and not one sighting of poison oak or poison sumac, which is a shrub of bogs and swamps. A plant someone here calls poison oak is almost certainly poison ivy, and we remove it the same way whatever it's called.

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

Yes, if you are paid to do it. Kentucky law makes it unlawful to apply pesticides as an employee of a pesticide business without an applicator license, and yard work falls under Category 3, Ornamental, Turf and Lawn Care. A homeowner treating their own yard with hand equipment is exempt, and hand digging needs no license.

How Do I Check a Company's Kentucky Pesticide License?

Use the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Licensed Applicator Search. You can pick Fayette County, and the results list each applicator's ID, name and ZIP code. Ask the company whose name is on its license. A crew that only digs by hand won't appear there and doesn't have to.

Can I Burn Poison Ivy in Fayette County?

No, never burn it. The University of Kentucky warns that even the smoke from burning poison ivy can trigger the rash. Besides, open burning anywhere in Fayette County needs a permit from the fire department, applied for at least 20 days ahead, and only wood, brush and charcoal may be burned. We bag the vines for the trash.

Can I Put Poison Ivy in My Gray Yard Waste Cart?

No, we wouldn't. The yard waste rules in Lexington don't mention poison ivy, but cart material has to be loose, not bagged, and the city turns it into mulch that it gives away to residents. We seal poison ivy in plastic bags for the trash, where the city wants everything bagged anyway.

Can the City Cite Me for Poison Ivy in My Yard?

Yes, if it is part of an overgrown yard. Lexington's nuisance rules in Chapter 12 bar grass or weeds 10 inches or taller and bushes or trees that block the sidewalk. Code Enforcement says owners typically get 14 days to fix a nuisance notice, and citations normally run from $100 to $2,500. Ask Code Enforcement, through LexCall 311, how the rule applies to your lot.

Who Handles Poison Ivy on a Street Tree or Greenway by My House?

A street tree is yours to deal with. Lexington has more than 53,000 street trees and says maintaining them is the property owner's responsibility, so we can cut the vines off one for you. A public greenway is different. The city tells neighbors not to mow or alter greenways, so report poison ivy there to LexCall 311 and we'll treat your side of the line.

Will You Leave a Sign or Tell My Neighbors When You Spray?

Yes, when we spray a lawn. Kentucky's rules call for a lawn marker right after the application, a white sign of at least 4 by 5 inches asking people to stay off the grass until dry. You can pull it up the next day. A neighbor whose home adjoins yours can also ask the applicator for 24 to 48 hours of notice.

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

Yes, with your landlord's or property manager's approval, because herbicide use and changes to the yard are normally the owner's call. About 46 percent of occupied homes in Lexington are rented, so check your lease for who looks after the yard. If it helps, we'll email the estimate to the owner as well.

Do I Have to Be Home While You Work?

No, not if the patch is somewhere we can reach on our own. Leave the gate unlocked, keep dogs and children indoors until we've finished, and flag any sprinkler heads or buried pet fence wire nearby.

How Long Does a Poison Ivy Job Take?

Spraying a typical yard fits into one short visit. Digging out roots or cutting vines off a row of trees takes much longer, sometimes most of a day. Plan on a return visit about a month later for regrowth.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy in Lexington During Winter?

Yes, we cut vines and dig roots through the winter, though there are no leaves to spray. Lexington's normal January high is about 42 degrees, and it stays at or below freezing all day on only about 18 days a year, so the ground is usually workable. Bare and dead stems still carry the oil.

Can You Kill Poison Ivy in a Bluegrass or Fescue Lawn?

Yes. Kentucky home lawns are mostly cool-season grass, meaning tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, and the University of Kentucky's lawn weed guide lists triclopyr among the broadleaf weed killers for them. We spot spray only the ivy and skip windy or hot, humid days, when the guide warns drift can injure nearby plants.

What Gets Mistaken for Poison Ivy Around Here?

Mostly Virginia creeper and young box elder. Both are logged in Fayette County more often than poison ivy itself. Virginia creeper has five leaflets where poison ivy has three, and box elder is a young tree, not a vine. Send us a clear photo and we'll tell you which one you have.

Can You Clear Poison Ivy Along a Creek Behind My House?

Yes. Creek banks and floodplains are prime ground for poison ivy, and Lexington has plenty: the West Hickman watershed alone covers 22 square miles, most of it residential. The city's advice for streamside buffers is to pull unwanted plants by hand and get the root, so near water we dig first and only spray products labeled for use there.

Can I Hire Sheep or Goats to Eat Poison Ivy in Lexington?

Yes. At least one Kentucky business that hires out sheep lists Lexington in its service area, and a 2026 news report put its visits at $195 to $295. Grazing strips the leaves but not the roots, so the ivy returns unless the animals come back over several seasons or the roots are treated.