I disagree. I agree that it will come back, but poison ivy is perhaps the most sensitive plants to Round up. You can apply two drops on three leaves with a small paint brush, and the whole plant dies. I was able to eliminate it from my blackberries without losing a single bramble. Once the plant dies (3-4 weeks after painting), cut it at the base so it falls to the floor and starts rotting. But I would not plant carrots, lettuce or turnips in there the first year, only stuff that is well elevated, tomatoes, pole beans or cucurbita with a trellis, collard, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, okra, pepper, eggplant. PI usually grows in good soil. You could also lay down cardboard and mulch, and punch holes just for the plants. That will separate you from the PI, but pay attention not to touch the trowel blade while you plant. This second method is probably as good as the first.

Realizing this is an old thread I will add... I also don't like to use weed killers. Manual removal of poison ivy works best but seldom gets it all and can take years. A good use for those plastic shopping bags... Placed them over your gloves hands (w/long sleeves, right?) so when you grab the ivy you can pull it into the bag and turn the bag inside out to contain the ivy for disposal. Does that make sense? As mentioned you prob won't get it all so you can leave a length of the vine and treat it with some Round-up using a quart plastic bottle (milk or juice bottle, etc). Mark the bottle "Weed Killer" so it is easily identified.. Insert a length of the vine into the bottle. Trim the opening if you need to make it large enuff to get any leaves inside the bottle. Use a piece of string or wire to tie the handle to the vine so the wind or children don't remove or play with it. Then pour in a bit of Roundup so that it touches all the leaves. Shake the bottle daily or as many times as you walk by it - so the Roundup wets the vine and leaves. This also works for other invasive weeds/vines such as bittersweet. Esp. effective when a vine has just sprouted up in the middle of your perennial bed (to kill just the vine).

Or, you could nuke it with high nitrogen fertilizer now, and possibly recover a crop for this year from your sad-looking plants. Don't overdo, but you might consider some soluble plant food (eg Miracle Gro) with a high N number, and if that seems to help, maybe combine it with a top dressing of high-N lawn fertilizer that would release over several days or weeks. I have similar conditions in my 20-year old garden, and I'm wondering if my history of avoiding fertilizer plus slacking off on compost additions the last few years has caused the same kind of effect. The wife fertilized the rhubarb plants this spring and they turned very green and really went to town, so that reinforces the idea.

When it comes to PI I have found you are on your own. Please proceed with caution, we are talking all out warfare. Here is my battle plan: 1. Get disposable, cheap long sleeve/long pants coveralls. No joke. The kind contractors use when crawling under houses. I'll be looking for them soon too. Hoping Harbor Freight has them on Broad St. Let me know if you find them before I do. 2. Always pick a day when you can spend hours in battle to get the most out of each coverall 3. Further protect yourself with washable, waterproof gloves & shoes or boots. You may need to use big rubber bands at your wrists & ankles to be certain none of your skin is exposed during battle 4. Arm yourself with Round Up PI killer, if there is a fast acting or long term formula, it is worth whatever it costs. Walmart or Costco may have the best prices. Get a 1 or 2 gallon sprayer. I got mine at Walmart. Mark some disposable cups w/Sharpie at the level needed to make the solution. You will toss the cup at the end of the day. I do leave any leftover spray in the sprayer and just release the pressure according to directions. 5. Get big heavy duty contractor trash bags. I always get them at Costco. Take only as many as you think you will need for a day's battle. 6. Get some wire flags-the kind you see used to mark underground utilities, etc or small wooden stakes. I bought a small bundle of them at Pleasants 7. You will need a loper & pruning shears 8. When you have all of these items email me & I'll explain how to use them ;) We shall prevail!