Poison Ivy Removal Services in Winston-Salem, NC

Poison Ivy Removal Titans removes poison ivy from yards, fence lines, creek banks and trees in Winston-Salem, NC and across Forsyth County. The city puts its tree canopy at about 47 percent, and poison ivy climbs wherever those trees meet a fence or a lawn. We spray it, cut and treat the vines, or dig it out, then haul everything away, since burning it is not allowed inside the city. Contact us now for a free estimate.

How Much Does Poison Ivy Removal Cost in Winston-Salem, NC?

Poison ivy removal in Winston-Salem costs anywhere from $270 to $630 on average for a typical residential yard. Here the price moves most with how many vines have climbed into trees, whether the patch sits on a slope or a creek bank, and haul-off, since the city's brush crews do not collect brush cut by contractors and we take it to a yard waste facility ourselves. Send photos and we'll confirm a price before any work starts.

Do You Remove Poison Ivy From Homes and Businesses in Winston-Salem?

Yes, we work on houses, rentals, apartment grounds, churches and commercial lots. About 6 in 10 homes in Winston-Salem are detached houses, and the usual job is the back fence line or tree line of one of those yards. Tell us the property type and the rough size of the patch.

What Parts of Winston-Salem Do You Cover?

All of it, including Ardmore, West End, Washington Park, West Salem, Old Salem, Reynoldstown, Waughtown, Konnoak Hills, Happy Hill, Boston-Thurmond, Castle Heights and Easton, plus Buena Vista, Sherwood Forest and Century Oaks in the West Ward. Send the address and we'll confirm a day.

Which Winston-Salem ZIP Codes Do You Serve?

All of them, including 27101, 27103, 27104, 27105, 27106, 27107 and 27127, plus the parts of 27040 and 27284 inside the city limits. Winston-Salem covers about 134 square miles, so tell us your ZIP and nearest cross street and we'll group you with nearby jobs.

Do You Work in Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, and Other Forsyth County Towns?

Yes, we take jobs across Forsyth County, including Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, Bethania and Tobaccoville. The county allows yard burning in some of those towns and not in others, but poison ivy should never be burned anywhere, so we haul it off on every job.

When Is the Best Time to Remove Poison Ivy in Winston-Salem?

Spraying works while the plant is in leaf, from spring until the leaves drop in fall. At the Winston-Salem airport weather station the median last freeze is March 26 and the median first fall freeze is November 9, about 228 days apart. N.C. Cooperative Extension offices say herbicides work best on early summer growth, or in late summer to early fall.

How Quickly Can You Start?

Usually within about a week. Demand jumps in spring as soon as the leaves come out and people start noticing it along the fence, so book early if you want it gone before summer.

What Do You Need From Me to Give a Quote?

The address, a few photos, a rough size for the patch, and where it's growing: lawn, fence, shrub bed, creek bank or up a tree. Tell us about any creek, pond or vegetable garden nearby and whether a gate is kept locked.

What Kind of Poison Ivy Grows in Winston-Salem?

Eastern poison ivy, the kind that climbs. NC State Extension says true Atlantic poison oak is rarer in the Piedmont than on the coastal plain, and poison sumac is rarely seen outside the coastal plain. Much of what gets called poison oak here is poison ivy with lobed leaves.

Where Does Poison Ivy Usually Turn Up in Winston-Salem?

Mostly along edges: fence rows, wooded lot lines, stream banks and roadsides. Winston-Salem has more than 25 miles of greenways, and volunteer plant records place poison ivy on the Salem Creek Greenway and at Bethabara Park, Miller Park and Reynolda Village. If your yard backs onto a creek or greenway, check that side first.

Can You Remove Poison Ivy Vines Climbing My Trees?

Yes. Tree canopy covers about 47 percent of Winston-Salem by the city's count, and NC State says a poison ivy vine can climb 60 to 150 feet, held on by aerial roots. We cut a section out near the ground, treat the rooted stump, and leave the top to die in place, since tearing it down strips bark and drops oily debris.

Do I Have to Be Home While You Work?

No, as long as we can reach the area. Unlock the gate, keep dogs inside, and mark any sprinkler heads or invisible fence wire near the patch.

Will the Poison Ivy Grow Back After You Treat It?

Yes, some of it usually does. N.C. Cooperative Extension puts it plainly: one herbicide application will not eliminate poison ivy, but it is effective over time. We plan a follow-up visit about a month later for regrowth, and birds keep dropping new seed after that.

Is a License Required to Spray Poison Ivy for Hire 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, and weed killers count. Ask any company for its license number and check it on the state agriculture department's public license search. Hand digging needs no pesticide license.

When Can Kids and Pets Go Back on the Treated Area?

Once the spray has dried, which usually takes an hour or two in dry weather. We tell you which product we used and what its label says. Dogs rarely get the rash, but they carry the oil indoors on their fur, so keep them out of any patch we haven't treated yet.

Will the City Pick Up the Poison Ivy You Cut?

No, and it doesn't need to, because we haul it ourselves. Winston-Salem's curbside brush crews do not collect brush cut by contractors. The local utility has two yard waste sites that take loads from private companies, one on Old Milwaukee Lane and one in Rural Hall. Nothing is left at your curb.

Where Do I Put Poison Ivy I Pulled Out Myself?

In the city's yard waste cart, loose, if you have one. The 96-gallon cart takes garden waste, shrub clippings and small branches, bags are not allowed in it, and North Carolina law keeps yard waste out of sanitary landfills. The city's rules don't name poison ivy, so ask CityLink 311 if you're unsure. Wear gloves and long sleeves, and never compost it at home.

Is It Legal to Burn Poison Ivy in Winston-Salem?

No. Forsyth County's environmental office says that because Winston-Salem provides yard waste pickup, no open burning is allowed in the city, and first offenses can bring fines of $100 to $2,000. The fire department does not issue permits for burning yard waste. NC State also warns that breathing the smoke can be even more hazardous than touching the plant.

Can You Clear Poison Ivy From a Creek Bank in Winston-Salem?

Yes, with care. In the Salem Lake watershed the local development ordinance sets a 100-foot buffer on perennial streams and, within 25 feet of the water, bars land disturbance and limits plant removal to clearing undergrowth. Near a bank we cut and treat stems with a product labeled for use near water instead of digging. Confirm your lot's rules with the city stormwater office.

Do I Need a Permit to Remove Poison Ivy in Winston-Salem?

No, we know of no city permit for pulling, cutting or spraying poison ivy in a yard. The city's grading permit only applies above 10,000 square feet of disturbed soil. Stream buffers are the thing to check: in the part of Forsyth County that drains to Randleman Lake, the county's 50-foot buffer rule lists removal of poison ivy as exempt.

Can I Hire You if I Rent My Home in Winston-Salem?

Yes, once your landlord or property manager approves it, since yard work and herbicide are the owner's call. It's common here, because about 44 percent of occupied homes in Winston-Salem are rented. State law also requires landlords to keep common areas in safe condition, worth raising if the poison ivy is along a shared walkway or play area.

Can the City Make My Neighbor Remove Poison Ivy?

No, not for poison ivy alone, as far as we can find. It is native and is not on North Carolina's noxious weed list. Winston-Salem Code Enforcement does cite grass or weeds over 8 inches and uncut shrubs, with fines that can run over $380, and you can report an overgrown lot through CityLink 311. We treat your side of the line only.

Who Handles Poison Ivy on a Street Tree or Greenway in Winston-Salem?

That land is the city's to maintain, so report it through CityLink 311 and say exactly where it is. Urban Forestry looks after more than 100,000 trees on city property and rights-of-way, and Vegetation Management maintains the rights-of-way and parks. We work only on private property, with the owner's permission.

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

Yes, in most cases. NC State calls tall fescue the grass best adapted to the Piedmont, and bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are grown here too. We spot treat with a selective broadleaf herbicide whose label covers your grass, since glyphosate is non-selective and kills the lawn with the ivy. Tell us which grass you have.

Does Summer Heat or Rain Stop You From Spraying in Winston-Salem?

No, but the weather sets the schedule. July highs average 88 degrees and rain falls on about 13 days of the month. The city tells residents never to apply pesticides when rain is forecast, because storm drains run straight to the creeks untreated. We spray on calm, dry mornings and move the visit when storms are coming.

Do You Work on Poison Ivy in Winter in Winston-Salem?

Yes, winter is a good time to cut vines off trees and dig roots. January highs average about 49 degrees, and with the leaves down the vines are easy to trace. Leaf sprays wait for spring. Bare vines still carry the oil, so don't handle them or toss them on a brush pile.

Will Poison Ivy Spread After a Storm Takes Down Trees?

Yes, it often does. U.S. Forest Service research found poison ivy increases after windstorms that open the canopy. NOAA's storm database holds 189 thunderstorm wind reports from 2016 through 2025 for Forsyth County, so wind damage is a regular thing here. If you lost a tree recently, check around the stump and the nearest fence line.

What Plants Get Mistaken for Poison Ivy Around Winston-Salem?

Virginia creeper and boxelder seedlings, mostly. N.C. Cooperative Extension says poison ivy is often confused with Virginia creeper, which has five leaflets where poison ivy has three. NC State notes that boxelder leaves often have three leaflets resembling poison ivy. Send a photo and we'll tell you which one you have.

Is It Okay to Leave Poison Ivy at the Back of a Wooded Lot?

Yes, sometimes that is the sensible choice. Poison ivy is native, songbirds and woodpeckers eat the fruit, and NC State says it can be left alone in native areas with low human activity. We'd clear fences, paths, play areas and trees near the house and leave the far corner alone.