Poison Ivy Removal Services in Philadelphia, PA

Poison Ivy Removal Titans removes poison ivy from yards, fence lines, alleys and trees across Philadelphia, PA. We cover every neighborhood in Philadelphia County, from rowhouse back yards in South Philadelphia to wooded lots along the Wissahickon and Pennypack creeks. The plant here is eastern poison ivy, which climbs, and with only about 1 in 12 homes detached, one fence-line patch is often two or three neighbors' problem. Contact us now for a free estimate.

How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost in Philadelphia, PA?

Poison ivy removal in Philadelphia costs anywhere from $320 to $760 on average for a typical residential yard. Here the price moves most with access and vines. A rear yard reached only through the house or a narrow alley takes longer to clear and carry out, and old vines on trees, fences and masonry cost more than ground patches. Published local prices are rare: one Philadelphia specialist lists a flat $49 on-site consultation that is credited toward the job. Send photos for a firm price.

Which Parts of Philadelphia Do You Cover?

All of it. We take jobs in every neighborhood, including Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, Germantown, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls, Overbrook, Wynnefield, Fox Chase, Bustleton, Somerton, Torresdale, Holmesburg and Eastwick, along with West, South and Northeast Philadelphia. We expect the heaviest growth where yards back onto the Wissahickon and Pennypack woods. Send us the address and we'll confirm.

Is There Poison Oak or Poison Sumac in Philadelphia?

No, almost never in a yard. Volunteer plant records for Philadelphia County show hundreds of poison ivy sightings and none of poison oak or poison sumac. Penn State Extension calls poison oak a plant of coastal soils and poison sumac a wetland plant of swamps and marshes. Three leaflets on a climbing vine here means poison ivy.

Where Does Poison Ivy Grow in Philadelphia?

Along the edges. Volunteer sightings cluster in Wissahickon Valley Park, Pennypack Park, Cobbs Creek Park, Fairmount Park, FDR Park and the John Heinz refuge at Tinicum, and the city's parks department alone looks after more than 10,200 acres. In yards it comes up where birds perch and drop seed: fence lines, alleys, hedges, tree bases and beside air conditioners.

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

Late spring through early fall for spraying, once the leaves are fully out. The last spring freeze at the airport falls around April 2 and the first fall freeze around November 10, a growing season of about 224 days. Cut-vine treatments on thick stems work best from late summer through autumn.

How Soon Can You Come Out?

Usually within a week in season. Spring is the rush, when the leaves come out and people find it while gardening, so contact us early if you want it gone before summer. A small patch can sometimes be handled on the first visit.

What Should I Send You for a Quote?

The address, a few photos, roughly how big the patch is, and what it is growing on, such as a fence, a wall, a tree or the ground. Tell us how we reach the yard, whether through the house, a side gate or a rear alley, and whose fence it is.

Will the Poison Ivy Grow Back After You Remove It?

Yes, some regrowth is normal. Poison ivy resprouts from even small bits of root left in the soil, and birds keep dropping new seed, so we plan a follow-up visit to treat new shoots. A heavy patch can take more than one season to finish.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Without Chemicals?

Yes, we can dig it out by hand, roots and runners included. It takes longer and usually costs more than spraying, but it is the better choice near vegetable beds, ponds and plants you want to keep.

Can You Get to a Rowhouse Back Yard With No Side Gate?

Yes, and here that is the normal job. Only about 1 in 12 Philadelphia homes is a detached house, so we are used to reaching yards through the house or a rear alley. We bag the vines in the yard and carry them out sealed. Tell us which way in works best.

Will I Need to Be Home During the Work?

No, as long as we can reach the yard. If the only way in is through the house, someone will need to let us in and out. Keep kids and pets indoors while we work.

Can I Request Removal if I Rent in Philadelphia?

Yes, with your landlord's approval. About 48 percent of occupied homes in the city are rentals, and the city's Partners in Good Housing guidebook says the tenant keeps the yard clean while the property must stay free of weeds or plant growth over 10 inches. Who pays is between you and your landlord.

What Can I Do About Poison Ivy Coming From a Neighbor's Yard or Vacant Lot?

We can cut and treat everything on your side of the line, but we can't go onto land that isn't yours. Report an overgrown vacant lot to Philly311. The city counts about 40,000 vacant lots and says inspection and cleanup can take up to 90 days, so expect regrowth at the fence in the meantime.

Do Landscapers in Philadelphia Remove Poison Ivy?

Yes, some do, but many will not touch it. A CBS Philadelphia garden report put it plainly: most landscapers don't want to handle it either. Anyone who sprays it for pay also needs a Pennsylvania pesticide license, which rules out a lot of mowing crews.

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

Yes, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requires a commercial applicator license to use pesticides on someone else's property, and the company needs a pesticide application business license. Lawn, shrub and tree work falls under categories 06 and 07. Digging poison ivy out by hand needs no pesticide license.

How Do I Check a Company's Pesticide License in Pennsylvania?

Look at the truck first. A licensed business must show its license number on both sides of every vehicle used for spraying, in figures at least 3 inches high. The Department of Agriculture also has an online lookup of licensed businesses, searchable by category, county or region.

Can I Put Poison Ivy Out With My Philadelphia Trash?

Yes, the city lets yard waste go out with regular trash. Seal it in heavy plastic bags of 30 to 32 gallons and keep each one under 40 pounds. Keep it out of the leaf recycling drop-offs, because those loads are composted. When we do the job, we haul it away ourselves.

Is It Legal to Burn Poison Ivy in Philadelphia?

No, not as we read the state rule, and it is dangerous anywhere. 25 Pa. Code 129.14 bars open burning in an air basin, with narrow exceptions such as cooking fires, and Philadelphia County is in the Southeast Pennsylvania air basin. The smoke also carries the plant's oil into your lungs. Air Management Services can confirm the city's own rule.

Does Philadelphia Require Homeowners to Remove Poison Ivy?

No, not by name as far as we can find. The city's housing guidebook says a property must be kept free of weeds or plant growth over 10 inches, and Licenses and Inspections takes high-weed complaints through 311 and can give an owner up to 35 days to correct a violation. Poison ivy is not on Pennsylvania's noxious weed list.

Will My Neighbors Be Notified When You Spray?

No, not automatically. Under Pennsylvania's pesticide rules, a neighbor who borders your property within 100 feet of the treated spot can ask the company in writing for notice and must then be told at least 12 hours ahead. People on the state's Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry within 500 feet are told 12 to 72 hours before.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy in Winter in Philadelphia?

Yes, we cut vines and dig roots in winter whenever the ground is workable. January lows here average about 26 degrees and a normal winter brings around 23 inches of snow, so some weeks are out. Leaf sprays wait for spring. Bare vines still hold the oil, so don't handle them.

Can You Spray During Philadelphia's Hot, Rainy Summers?

Yes, we just pick our days. A normal July here has highs near 88 degrees and measurable rain on about 10 days, so we spray on dry, calm mornings and move the visit when storms are forecast. The product has to dry on the leaf to work.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy From an Old Brick or Stone Wall?

Yes, carefully. About 4 in 10 Philadelphia homes were built before 1940, and old mortar comes away with a live vine if you pull it. We cut the stems at the base, treat the cut, let the vine die and dry, then ease it off. Tell us how high it climbs.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy From the Street Tree in Front of My House?

No, not without the city's say. Street trees are looked after by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and contractors need a tree work permit from its Street Tree Management office to work on one. Ask that office about the vine, or file a street tree maintenance request. Vines on trees inside your yard we handle.

Who Handles Poison Ivy on Park Land Next to My Yard?

The city does. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation manages more than 10,200 acres and does not work on private property, and we cannot work on park land. Report the spot through Philly311, which routes it to the right department. Meanwhile we can clear your side of the fence and treat regrowth as it crosses.

Do You Cover the Suburbs Around Philadelphia?

Yes, we take jobs in the towns that ring the city, including Lower Merion, Cheltenham, Abington, Upper Darby and Bensalem. Rules change at the city line. Upper Moreland Township's code, by one local report, has barred letting poison ivy grow in trees, with 10 days to fix it after a notice and fines of $100 to $1,000.

Which Philadelphia ZIP Codes Do You Serve?

All of them. That includes 19118 in Chestnut Hill, 19119 in Mount Airy, 19144 in Germantown, 19129 in East Falls, 19111 in Fox Chase, 19115 in Bustleton, 19116 in Somerton, 19151 in Overbrook and 19136 in Holmesburg, plus 19128, 19114, 19154, 19153, 19131 and the Center City and South Philadelphia codes. Give us your ZIP and street to check dates.

Do You Remove Poison Ivy From School Grounds in Pennsylvania?

Yes, with lead time. Pennsylvania requires a school to post a notice sign at least 3 days before and 2 days after a pesticide treatment, to notify parents 3 days ahead, and to keep treatments off grounds students will use within 7 hours. Digging it out by hand uses no pesticide, which is often simpler for a school.

What Plants in Philadelphia Get Mistaken for Poison Ivy?

Virginia creeper most of all. It climbs the same fences and walls, but Penn State Extension points out that it always has five leaflets where poison ivy has three. Red maple seedlings fool people in spring. Send a photo and we'll tell you which one you have.