The Gloved Hand - Poison Ivy Removal Service in Connecticut

The Gloved Hand

– Poison Ivy Service –

Organic Poison Ivy & Poision Oak Removal in Connecticut & New York.

The Gloved Hand
Poison Ivy & Poison Oak Service Areas:

CONNECTICUT

Fairfield, New Haven & Southern Litchfield Counties

NEW YORK

Westchester, Rockland & Putnam Counties

Like the "White Glove Service" you would expect from a butler, The Gloved Hand is dedicated to meticulous, thorough, and organic poison ivy eradication. Our specialists remove poison ivy and poison oak by extracting the entire root system with hand tools.

When I visit a poison ivy patch, I often dig up some rather interesting-looking roots like the one pictured below. When poison ivy roots are cut or ripped (you can see the cut in the first of the two photos), the sources of energy that would have normally flown through the runner past the previously cut spot, bump into a dead end. This energy is collected and stored at the dead end, and fill out into a root tuber. From that tuber (also known as a rhizome), 4 or 5 roots may branch out in multiple directions, or a tap-like root may begin to grow straight down as a means to support the newly cut plant.

Poison ivy roots that are ripped or trimmed down to the ground level instead of being dug out, cause the root system to "bush out" underground. This is similar to trimming a bush for a fuller look. The poison ivy experts at The Gloved Hand do not recommend ripping, mowing, or otherwise cutting poison ivy at the ground level every year, because it can create a HUGE poison ivy root system that it more difficult to dig out.

Close up image of Poison Ivy Root Tuber - The Gloved Hand Poison Ivy Removal

The image above is a close up of the poison ivy root tuber. At the top left corner of this poison ivy tuber you can see the original cut that caused it to develop. The hole and tuber in this photo measured nearly two feet. In an undisturbed state, poison ivy runs approximately one inch below the earth's surface and parallel to the ground. Secondary roots that grow off the main runner are approximatley 4 to 5 inches long, and grow at an acute angle to the runner. Abberant roots, like the one pictured above, are found growing perpendicular to the earth's surface.

When our poison ivy specialists begin to chase a root that runs straight down, an 8-inch depth is adequate for digging the root out. Past 8 inches, a root often is too skinny for survival on its own — especially at such a depth.

Poison Ivy Root dug out by The Gloved Hand Poison Ivy Removal Service

Above image shows the same Poison Ivy Tuber.
Look closely to view how skinny the long poison ivy roots become as we explore its depth.

Pictured below is William Bartlett, The Gloved Hand's Poison Ivy Tree Specialist Eradicator. To bring down large, tree-climbing vines, William uses a come-a-long, or will climb the tree when necessary. He tackles thick (sometimes record-breaking) poison ivy vines, and has been in the poison ivy eradication business for over 40 years.

William Bartlett and Cynthia Campbell with large poison ivy vines pulled from a tree

William Bartlett & Cindy Campbell show off a tree-climbing poison ivy vine detached roots.

Poison Ivy Removal Experts Geoff Martino and Cindy Campbell

Poison Ivy specialist, Geoff Martino, has worked with Cindy Campbell of The Gloved Hand since 2011.

Call or Email to Schedule a Consult:

203-736-0664
WeedPoisonIvy@TheGlovedHand.com

Follow Us on YouTube to Learn More About Our Poison Ivy Eradication Experts:

@WeedPoisonlvy

2022 Update - A Note About the Ongoing Coronavirus:

The Gloved Hand has been in business since 2009. Since first offering poison ivy removal services, The Gloved Hand has implemented a strict protection protocol from potential exposure to urushiol for both my team, students, and clients. All tools, gloves, and clothing that come into contact with poison ivy are contaminated with a hazardous substance, so clients receive instructons to keep their distance. All protection protocols apply to social distancing to prevent the spread of Covid-19, ensuring that The Gloved Hand will adopt and maintain a safe environment when working on your property.

My name is Cindy, and I am the owner of The Gloved Hand. I became involved with the poison ivy plant in 1988 when my husband and I bought a house in Connecticut with poison ivy on the premises. My husband, Robert, contracted a severe case of poison ivy that required medical treatment, so I proceeded to clear out our new yard by myself. I found that the best method for removing the poison ivy was to remove the entire root system by hand. Under the tutelage of a knowledgeable Yankee farmer, I learned productive weeding techniques in various weather conditions and seasonal changes.

Being able to identify poison ivy in the dormant season when there are no leaves on the plant helps me eradicate poison ivy before the season even begins! I recommend keeping this in mind when hiring The Gloved Hand. Poison ivy eradication can begin as soon as the ground thaws in March. May and June are very busy months; however, work continues on through Spring, Summer, and Autumn — right up until the ground freezes again.

Digging to eradicate poison ivy roots is not a good idea for those with a severe allergy to poison ivy; however, common sense is your best ally. Contrary to popular belief, I am not one of those rare individuals who has a natural immunity to the poison ivy. Armed with tenacity and know-how, I implement safety protocols to prevent poison ivy transmission for myself, my team, and trained DIY-ers.

POISON IVY SERVICES & PRICING

1. Guesstimates

The root system is the mystery, which is why it’s a “guesstimate.” The experts at The Gloved Hand usually don’t need to visit the property to begin an estimate, because what the client may view above ground can be explained over the phone or via email. There are indicators above ground that you can describe over the phone. We will ask you questions that will help determine what difficulties the root system will present once we dig in. In this way we can give new poison ivy eradication clients a “ball-park” figure.

OVER THE PHONE – No Cost.
203-736-0664, or email your phone number, and I will contact you.

If there is some reason to visit the site, a "Search & Assess" fee is double the travel fee ($30 minimum) + the travel fee.

Travel fee rates are listed near the bottom of this webpage. Click here to jump to Travel Fees.

The cost of this "Search & Assess" visit is NOT deducted from the actual job. This is a separate cost.

2. Poison Ivy Eradication

Eradicating poison ivy roots, runners, and climbers under 2-inch in diameter by digging the plant’s entire root system out using a double set of gloves, a trowel, and sometimes a shovel. Pulling the ivy off a tree as high as can be pulled down without ladders, but may be based on additional factors.

$60/hour: Lead Eradicator
$54/hour: 2nd Eradicator
Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

3. Tree Root Service:

When an old poison ivy climber has developed over many years, particularly thick poison ivy roots are dug out (2-inch diameter or thicker). These are tougher to extract around the base of a tree, and the climber is pulled off the tree as high as possible with the assistance of a ladder.

$72/hour: Tree Root Specialist
$66/hour: 2nd Tree Root Specialist
Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

4. Tree Climbing Service

A poison ivy specialist climbs a tree to remove the vines that cannot be taken down without the use of a winch or cherry picker. When humongous vines cannot be pulled off by human strength alone, a winch on the back of a pickup truck may be required.

$96/hour: Tree Climbing Specialist

Hauling Service Fees: $500/level dump truck or $125/cubic yard, for example: 2" diameter vine at 50' in height may cost around $50 in hauling, however, distance to dumping site and other circumstances will vary the price.

– 4 hr minimum –

5. Poison Ivy Ripping:

This method is less thorough but quicker for removing large ground cover of poison ivy. This method may require a follow up visit to dig out any remaining roots when new leaves reveal themselves. Remaining poison ivy roots are dug out meticulously to complete the eradication.

$60/hour: Lead Eradicator
$54/hour: 2nd Eradicator
Hauling Fees: $15 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

6. Stone Walls

The Gloved Hand will eradicate the roots from out, under, and in-between stones in walls. This service sometimes calls for relocating stones and putting them back, or moving the stone wall laterally.

$72/hour: Lead Eradicator
$66/hour: 2nd Eradicator
Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

7. Poison Ivy Documentary

For those who wish a DIY approach to poison ivy removal, The Gloved Hand offers a 1-hour Poison Ivy Documentary that includes the best poison ivy identification lesson on the web!

FREE DOCUMENTARY
DIY-ers, work at your own risk - and be aware.

Please share this video. The Gloved Hand Poison Ivy Removal Service is looking to hire subcontractors. If interested, please check out our Professional Training service below.

Poison Ivy Documentary

For specific information on…

Poison Ivy Identification:

View video at 8:30 mark.

Poison Ivy Look-A-Likes:

View video at 21:15 mark.

Techniques for Digging Out Poison Ivy:

View video at 25:50 mark.

Dressing & Undressing Safely for Poison Ivy Removal:

View video at 40:15 mark.

8. Professional Training

A one-to-one for an individual to become a sub-contractor for "The Gloved Hand." This 6-hour training is divided into 3-hour sessions, each one on a separate day. Time will be spent handling and working with the poison ivy plant each day (wearing gloves).

Completion of the 1-hour Poison Ivy Documentary is a prerequisite to this training.

$360 for one person includes the two days. At the conclusion of the Professional Training start working for The Gloved Hand at $27, quickly rising to $30 and further down the line, to $33 and $36, with even higher rates for those who develop further on.

Two 3-hour sessions on separate days

See box below for more information on Professional Training

The Poison Ivy Video is helpful in conjunction with the following training or workshops:

Private Poison
Ivy Training:

For 1 to 3 individuals on a properties with poison ivy. The Poison Ivy Eradication and Protection Protocol is a common sense procedure developed by The Gloved Hand for safety from the ivy's oil/resin while working with the plant. Trainees learn the protocol in one session. Trainees will also work directly with the poison ivy plant — wearing gloves of course!—while avoiding the invisible urushiol.

Optionally, a 2nd training further acclimates an individual to becoming more confident, comfortable, and safe within this routine.

Professional
Training:

This is a one-to-one professional training for individuals interested in improving job skills, wish to go into the poison ivy removal business, or a looking to become a sub-contractor for The Gloved Hand. The 6-hour training is divided into two 3-hour sessions. Time is spent handling and working with the poison ivy plant each day. A certificate from The Gloved Hand is mailed to the trainee upon completion of the training. The Poison Ivy documentary is encouraged prior to this training.

Laboratory
Workshop:

Group poison ivy training that is fun and interactive. This option incorporates 3 learning styles: watching, doing, and observing others practicing the protocol developed by The Gloved Hand. These procedures are to keep everyone safe from exposure to urushiol, poison ivy’s oil/resin. The Poison Ivy documentary is encouraged prior to this training. The training takes place indoors in a laboratory-like setting and does not include any contact with poison ivy.
If a group wishes to continue to gain hands-on poison ivy experience under the guidance of The Gloved Hand, the following “In-the-Field Workshop” will round-out the experience.

In-the-Field Poison Ivy Workshop:

(Pre-requisite: “Laboratory Workshop”) This workshop takes place on a poison ivy site, and enables attendees to try their hand at digging it out. This is a follow up to the previous Laboratory Workshop. The Gloved Hand poison ivy experts will offer digging techniques and ongoing guidance to avoid the invisible culprit, urushiol, in all situations. Bathroom breaks will come before and after exposure to urushiol.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING CAN BE PAID OFF WITH A COMBINATION OF LABOR & MONEY:

At the conclusion of the Professional Training and in order to make payment in full for this training, begin working for The Gloved Hand at $27 per hour, taking $3 off your pay each hour worked until the full cost of the training has been paid. (Hence, 27-3=24 with $24/hr being your take home pay.) Quickly rise to $30/hr once the Protection Protocol has been consistently implemented on the job. And once a worker is able to determine the best approach to a poison ivy patch, while working with a supervisor, the pay increases to $33. Additionally, when the ability is gained to follow up on a job by working a day alone at that site, the pay increases to $36 per hour. As this pay/work combination is ongoing, a person's labor pay is arranged to have automatic deductions of $3 per hour made towards the Professional Training. Any amount of money upfront that has been paid off will decrease the number of $3 deductions but if not, it will take 120 hours of working for The Gloved Hand (probably the first 20-30 days of work) to reach the total reimbursement amount due The Gloved Hand for the Professional Training.

POISON IVY RASH REMEDIES

Click image to download

Poison Ivy Rash Remedy Document

Page 2

Poison Ivy Rash Remedy - page 2

TOXICODENDRON MAPS

Poison Ivy Rash Remedy - page 2
Poison Ivy Removal Travel Fees Chart - The Gloved Hand

Professional Training Fees - two 3-hr sessions on separate days

$360 for 1 person includes both days.

Anyone taking this professional training can choose to override the direct fee by subcontracting to “The Gloved Hand” for approximately 50 hours spread out over months and starting at the base wage of $18 per hour. Also, a combination of labor and dollars can be arranged to compensate for the training.

If a person chooses to subcontract with “The Gloved Hand” for further work the responsibilities taken on within the company are accompanied by pay increases.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>