I had to laugh at your sudden knowledge of what your DH has been doing, yet to that moment, no one had come down with raging reactions. Of course, you know how it is. Now that you're aware, it'll happen. I was also not allergic to PI until I moved to the country and rubbed it all over my body with my cell phone. Long story. I learned that PI can be steroid resistant. I learned that like humans have blood, plants have urushiol oil. For example, my friend reacts to the morning glory family like it was PI. I learned that if you get PI on your forearms or your stomach, it's more likely to go systemic. I also learned that you don't need "generous swabbings" of alcahol or bleach, or hot towels, etc. Or to carry it around with you. Why waste time? All I/you need is a degreasing soap. Oil + degreaser = no oil. oil + water or not enough bleach or alcohol = spread it all over yourself. Follow me? I had PI all over our 6 acres, to the point where it covered the house we bought. I had these gorgeous, weeping trees along my fence lines we learned were actually fence posts with PI growing up them so thickly it rose over 15' into the air. Ick. Makes my hair stand on end. Now, if I think I'll be working near PI, pulling out the roots (I can get PI from the dirt the roots are in) or mowing the field where it hides in the clover? I used to use Technu before hand, but now? I just rub degreasing Dawn dishsoap on my arms and exposed areas. Less expensive and washes off pretty well.:) If I even think I've been near PI, I go into the house and rub dishwashing soap or Lever 2000 all over me using as little (cold) water as possible. I wait a few minutes, brushing my teeth or something, then hop into the shower. Don't forget to wash your hair well! Although I've flirted with PI since I had a huge, total-body reaction, I can guarantee you if you use some sort of degreaser after you're done gardening, you won't react. If you did (and not from the clothes someone leaves lying around) I'll buy your soap. Another myth is that you can catch PI from someone's outbreak. No. Our bodies don't produce urushiol; it's not parasitic. That's just your body reacting. Put on a space suit and pull out the roots. If you don't, it grows back from the tiniest little root hair. ICK! Good luck with your giant pile in the field, 'cause even dead, those leaves can get you. Christine

LOL!! If deer really liked English ivy, the world would be a far better place :-)) They may browse it occasionally but it is by no means at the top of their preferred menu and even if browsed, will do very little harm to this extremely aggressive, invasive monster. Just an FYI, but English ivy, Vinca minor and yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdelon) are ALL considered invasive species in various locations across the country. It is always a good idea to check and see what is listed on your state's invasive plant listing before making a final decision.

I wouldnt worry too much about it, wubba, unless the vine is hanging where you could accidentally touch it. If it is hanging over your side of the fence and within reach, consider lopping off the branch (preferably before it leaves out or in the fall after it has lost its leaves, to be safe.) If it is safely out of reach, its the berries youll have to fear more than the leaves, because youll be finding poison ivy seedlings about. That would be a legitimate reason to continue politely badgering your neighbor. But even if the vine is removed, you are still likely to see seedlings pop up from seeds that have been waiting in the dirt, or that have been carried into your yard by birds from elsewhere, via their flying poop-delivery service. Poison ivy is ubiquitous. The dried and fallen leaves shouldnt be so dangerous, so long as you handle them with a rake. Last fall I raked the poison sumac leaves into a heap under the sumac tree and left them there to rot, and got no rash in the process. Perhaps you could entice your neighbor to take care of the vine by suggesting better plants that could go in the same location. Maybe if you buy some sort of flowering vine for your yard and "accidentally" end up with an extra, and offer it to them? Or if you have a chainsaw, offer to stop by and sever the vine at the root? Killing it doesnt have to be a big production; maybe they just dont realize that. It may help, too, to just accept it as a part of the landscape. In some yards poison ivy is just something that has to be lived with. I expect to be removing it from the gardened portions of my yard until the end of time, but farther back in the wild bits, its going to remain a part of the landscape out of necessity. There is one particular old "mother vine" on the property that really is a joyful part of the landscape. All of the leaves are high up out of reach, the vine is a lovely gnarled thing to look at, and the birds love the berries. I could chainsaw this one, but Im sure the other local vines would still seed my yard, so I might as well keep this one around as an example of the native plants that I love. :) Yama do be careful. A person can develop a sensitivity to urishiol at any time during their life. And even though the oil doesnt bother you, if you get it on your clothes or tools or car-seat, and then someone else comes into contact with those surfaces, that person will be exposed.

"I live in a highly populated area and want to deter people from sitting on the wall." This is a more unusual design request - plant ask in these forums which makes it all the more interesting. Short, soft draping plants may not be the answer. You can sit on ivy, cotoneaster, phlox and many other short groundcover plants just fine. What you don't want is some thorny bush or any woody shrub poking you in the back and butt crack. You need to take away the back rest space. I think you were on the right track with the roses. In winter yes they'd be ugly. I think roses are ugly shrubs in general. You can get thorns in evergreen though. Dwarf Burford Holly is the first that comes to mind. There are bound to be more. What 7b plants for this corner lot say. "Get Off My Wall?