Weed Control
Best Brush Killer: The Method Decides the Formulation
Penn State: an oil-based triclopyr ester goes on any time after cutting; a water-based one must be applied immediately. Choose the method, then the bottle.
Brush and Poison Ivy Herbicide (ready-to-use)
Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal Review
★★★★☆ 4.3/5
our editor rating how we score4.4/5 from 4,833 shoppers at Amazon — their number, not ours.
$25–$30
Typical price · 1 gal ready-to-use with a wand; spot treatment only, no dilution
Affiliate links — see our disclosure. Commissions never influence verdicts.
The right active ingredient in the form most people actually want for poison ivy: pre-mixed, with a wand, so there is nothing to measure while wearing gloves.
Our Verdict
Triclopyr is the active extension services rank first for poison ivy, and this is that active with the mixing step removed — which matters more here than on most jobs, because the whole point of the exercise is not touching the plant or fumbling with a measuring cup in gloves. Its label (EPA Reg. 239-2587) lists poison ivy, poison oak, kudzu, honeysuckle, wild blackberry, trumpet creeper and Virginia creeper, and covers use around homes, cabins, buildings, fences and trails. Two things to be clear about. It is dilute — 0.70% triclopyr triethylamine salt, 0.50% acid equivalent — so a gallon treats a fence line rather than an acre, and per unit of active it is by far the most expensive way to buy triclopyr here. And it is not selective: the label states plainly that it is not recommended for weed control in lawns, and to shield desirable plants from drift. Buy it for a defined patch you want dealt with this weekend.
✅ Pros
- Triclopyr — the active UGA Extension calls highly effective on poison ivy — with no measuring step
- Poison ivy, poison oak, kudzu, honeysuckle, wild blackberry, trumpet creeper and Virginia creeper all on the label
- Label sites are the ones homeowners actually have: around homes, cabins, buildings, fences and trails
- 4.4 across 4,833 Amazon ratings
⚠️ Cons
- Dilute at 0.70% — the most expensive way to buy triclopyr per unit of active on this site
- Label states it is not recommended for weed control in lawns; it will kill grass it contacts
- A gallon covers a patch, not a property — for anything larger the 8.8% concentrates are a fraction of the cost
- Ortho appends a numeral to this name for formulation revisions, so check the pack against the label you read
Product type
Brush and Poison Ivy Herbicide (ready-to-use)
Active ingredient
Triclopyr, triethylamine salt 0.70% (0.50% acid equivalent)
Price range
$25–$30
Coverage
1 gal ready-to-use with a wand; spot treatment only, no dilution
Best for
A defined patch of poison ivy or brush around a fence, shed or path, without mixing anything
our editor rating
4.3 out of 5
Where our facts come from
Label read on EPA's label database
EPA Reg. No. 239-2587
We opened this product's accepted label on EPA's own Pesticide Product Label System — the strongest source available for what a product is registered to do.
What we found when we read it
Full label text read 2026-08-02 on EPA PPLS. Registered name is 'Brush-B-Gon Poison Ivy & Poison Oak Killer'; 'Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer' is one of eleven alternate brand names on the same registration, alongside Ortho Max Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer RTU and Ortho Kudzu MAX. Triclopyr triethylamine salt 0.70%, 0.50% acid equivalent (0.043 lb/gal). Weeds include Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Kudzu, Honeysuckle, Wild Blackberry, Trumpet Creeper, Virginia Creeper. Sites: around homes, cabins, buildings, fences and trails. Explicit caution: 'Not recommended for weed control in lawns' and shield desirable plants from drift with cardboard or plastic. The Amazon listing carries a subscript numeral on the name, which Ortho uses for formulation revisions within this brand-name family — the registration number is the thing to match.
Where this page and the container disagree, the container wins — the label is the legal authority on rates and restrictions. How to read one yourself.
Common questions
Common Questions
How much does Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal cost?
Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal typically runs $25–$30, covering 1 gal ready-to-use with a wand; spot treatment only, no dilution.
What does Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal treat?
Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal targets poison ivy, poison oak, kudzu, honeysuckle, wild blackberry, trumpet creeper, among others.
What is the active ingredient in Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal?
Triclopyr, triethylamine salt 0.70% (0.50% acid equivalent), registered under EPA Reg. No. 239-2587.
What is the biggest downside of Ortho GroundClear Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Ready-to-Use, 1 gal?
Dilute at 0.70% — the most expensive way to buy triclopyr per unit of active on this site
Real feedback
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