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All herbicides come with risks, but you can control and mitigate risks by discussing your options with your weed service company before application. Some companies use milder or sustainable herbicides more times per season to control weeds rather than one to two herbicide sprayings annually. You can also ask your professional about pet-friendly and kid-friendly services. In most cases, though, you can wait a few days after the application for the herbicides to soak into the ground, at that point they shouldn’t pose a risk to you or your family.

There are several ways to kill poison ivy permanently. The trick is to keep it from coming back. Herbicides and natural remedies are highly effective for killing existing poison ivy plants. However, plant and root parts left behind can easily create new sprouts that turn into full-grown plants. The only way to permanently get rid of poison ivy is to be patient and diligent until all traces of the plant are dead and gone.

It’s best to pull weeds when the soil is wet, as it’s much easier. Wet soil is much softer than dry soil, making it easier to pull the entire weed up by the root. Also, since the soil is wet, the roots will let go of the soil and slide up with less resistance. Be careful when working on your wet garden, though, as wet soil is easier to compact, which can harm your plants.

Poison oak is similar to poison ivy in that it's in the same family of plants. Poison oak is identifiable by its rounded-off leaves and hairy leaf texture. Tree-climbing varieties live primarily in western states while low-growing poison oak bushes occupy the eastern states. Treat poison oak like poison ivy to get rid of it permanently.