Without a doubt, they are killing the fruit bushes where I live. I went out and pulled at least a black garbage bag full yesterday and there are many more. Much of the bush that was alive last year, is not this year. You can pull some of them out but where the bush is still full, it is hard to get to all of them. Also, even though you are pulling them out, there are still little vines that you can't get to that are probably strangling them. One section about a foot long and maybe wo inches wide is completely dead now and that is where these air plants were very thick. Very sad.

nywoodsman's worldview is such because he has never experienced poison ivy like the rest of us! My wife and I are very allergic to p.I. But she is more allergic than I. We went to Disney World one year and they wouldn't let us in to a tour group because they thought she had a highly contagious skin disease (like eczema) on her face!! We had an abundance of it growing in a shrub we wanted to keep. I trimmed the shrub but avoided p.I. like the plague!! But it got so bad growing out of control each year that this year I had to do something. I obtained SYRVET's OB Veterinary Gloves which go all the way up to the shoulders (you can get them on Amazon). I had my wife tape them to my shoulders--however, you have to tape them across the back of the shirt, from top of glove to top of glove because the sweat will cause the tape to come loose and the glove will descend down to near the wrists. Not good!! After I finished working, I had my wife carefully pull the long gloves inside-out and we placed them in a plastic bag for disposal. She had to wash right away but did not get any rash. Once the gloves were off and disposed of, I immediately used Technu on my hands and wrists by rubbing them for several minutes. Then I used a liquid soap on that and washed my hands and wrists off. I followed that with a shower. Don't think that wearing an old pair of pants will protect you completely! Some of the urushiol oil penetrated the cloth and I got a rash on my thigh. I treated it with Technu soap regularly for several days. That did not get rid of the rash but it did lessen the severity of the itch. Some may be interested In knowing that Technu also makes something called "Tecnu Corticool" which is a hydrocortisone that gives you relief from the itch. But you will have to apply it again after awhile. This cream comes in a 1.5 oz tube and can also be gotten on Amazon. Hope this helps

Update on our tree situation. We finally received the Diagnostic Report back from Texas A & M Agriculture from the 3rd sample the lawn company finally sent in. On the report it stated the sample received was " Desiccated (dry) sample, Poor Sample" Just as we assumed it would be by the time they had got around to sending it. It also stated in the report "that there was no pathogen found, observed twig damage resulting from egg-laying insects activity, likely wasp. Although the damage looks unsightly it actually results in little significant damage and does not generally warrant any specific control efforts." Meaning this would not result in the trees dying at the same time in a matter of 7-10 days. I spoke with the representative from Texas A&M and asked if a test for herbicide had been done. She said "no, there had not been one requested and had there been one requested they would have had to send the specimen somewhere else. But the poor sample they had received had shown no signs of fungus or disease that would have resulted in all the trees dying at the same time so quickly." When the Diagnostic Report did not verify that the trees died from a fungus or a disease they then had to admit that the herbicide spray resulted in the trees dying. They have agreed to replace our trees.

Here's the rub: weed killers - herbicides - can't distinguish between a weed or any other sort of plant, many of which are desirable in the garden. At most, they will target specific plant types but not necessarily individual plants. Weed killers used on lawns typically target boadleaved weeds, leaving the turf grass/lawn alone. Using the same weed killer in a planted area with flowering plants, annuals, perennials etc. runs the risk of killing those plants as well, as the herbicide only recognizes them as broadleaved. Using any sort of herbicide in a non-lawn planted area is risky. Really only the ones that target monocots or grass-like (single bladed) plants are safe. Your options are to remove any weeds in these areas manually, burn them off individually (and very carefully) with a weed torch or smother them. Once the weeds are removed, mulching will help to keep them under control but nothing will keep them out forever.