- 1). Identify the poison oak in your area. It appears as a vine or small shrub between one and six feet high. Its leaves typically appear in groups of three (though clusters of five, seven and nine are possible) and resemble those of real oaks. White-green flowers appear in the spring, with small white-green fruit showing up in the summer.
- 2). Mark the areas affected by poison oak with warning flags or ribbons wrapped around nearby trees. It keeps people from stumbling into the plant needlessly.
- 3). Dress in clothes that completely cover your skin: blue jeans, cotton gloves worn over plastic gloves, a long-sleeved work shirt and good sturdy boots.
- 4). Remove the poison oak by hand, using a spade or shovel to get it up by the roots. It's important to clear all the roots, or else the poison oak will grow back. Ideally, you should uproot it during periods when the nearby soil is moist, such as in the spring or fall after a good rainstorm.
- 5). Use herbicides to kill the oak, first by clipping the oak one to two inches from the base and then applying herbicide to the stump. Alternatively, you can cover the base of every stem of poison oak with the herbicide. The University of California recommends using Roundup or other glyphosates for treating poison oak. It should be applied in late summer after the fruit has appeared but before the leaves start to turn in the fall.
- 6). Bury the uprooted plant, or stack it somewhere where it won't get in anyone's way. You can also take it to a qualified disposal area if you have one nearby.
- 7). Apply Tecnu to your clothes, tools, skin and anything else that may have come in contact with the poison oak. Do this before you go inside or touch anything else. Tecnu is available in most drugstores and through a number of online outlets as well.
- 8). Take a hot shower and wash yourself thoroughly with soap. Put all your clothes into the washing machine with plenty of detergent to ensure the poison oak is removed.
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