An herbicide labeled for poison ivy or poison oak may also be an option. When removing poison ivy or oak, wear long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, and protective gloves to cover exposed skin. Once any current growth is addressed, regular lawn maintenance can help make poison ivy or poison oak less likely to return unnoticed. Regular mowing may suppress young growth in maintained turf, but it usually won't eliminate established poison ivy or poison oak roots on its own. With those simple steps and regular inspections, you'll be better prepared to catch poison ivy or poison oak before it spreads across your yard.