At Tim Andrews Horticulturist LLC, we specialize in plant health care, landscape management, and tree services tailored to the unique challenges of southern Wisconsin. Whether you need help identifying a mysterious rash-causing plant, managing invasive growth, or maintaining a healthy, beautiful yard—our team is here for you.
From diagnosis to treatment, we handle it with care—because we’re committed to caring for your green world.
What to watch for—and how to protect your landscape and yourself
When summer heat settles in across southern Wisconsin, the growing season kicks into full gear—not just for your garden and trees, but for a few unwanted guests, too. Poison ivy, wild parsnip, and stinging nettles thrive in the edges of woods, roadsides, and overgrown patches of landscape. All three can cause serious skin reactions, and all three are increasingly common across Dane, Iowa, Sauk, and surrounding counties.
Here’s how to spot them, how to stay safe, and how Tim Andrews Horticulturist LLC can help.
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
“Leaves of three, let it be.”
This native plant prefers shade to part-sun and moist to medium soils, often climbing or trailing in wooded areas, fence lines, or hedgerows. Contact with its oil—urushiol—can cause an itchy, blistering rash that lasts for weeks.
- ID tips: Three almond-shaped leaflets, often with a reddish stem. The middle leaflet has a longer stalk than the two side ones.
- Where it grows: Edges of forests, old fields, fencelines, and under trees.
- Control: Small patches can be hand-pulled with gloves and bagged. Larger infestations may require selective herbicide treatments or professional removal to avoid spreading the oil.
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
A dangerous beauty in ditches and meadows.
Wild parsnip is a biennial that’s becoming a real problem in rural and suburban landscapes. The sap of the plant contains chemicals that react with sunlight to cause severe burns and blisters—a condition called phytophotodermatitis.
- ID tips: Yellow umbrella-shaped flowers, like Queen Anne’s lace, atop tall grooved stems. Leaves resemble celery or parsley.
- Where it grows: Roadsides, trail edges, open fields, neglected garden areas.
- Control: Mowing before it flowers can reduce seed spread, but handling must be done with care—long sleeves, gloves, and full sun protection are a must. Herbicide spot-treatment in early spring is often the most effective.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
The plant that bites back.
Often mistaken for a harmless weed, stinging nettles have tiny, hair-like structures on their leaves and stems that release irritating histamines and acids upon contact.
- ID tips: Serrated, pointed leaves in opposite pairs; stems are square. Can grow waist-high in fertile, moist soils.
- Where it grows: Woodland edges, gardens with rich soil, along creeks or shaded compost piles.
- Control: Gloves and long sleeves are key. It can be dug out or mowed repeatedly, though it may re-sprout. Interestingly, once dried or cooked, nettles are edible and nutritious.
Managing Problem Plants Safely
At Tim Andrews Horticulturist LLC, we approach invasive or nuisance plant management with care—for people and for the environment. If you’re not sure what’s growing on your property, or if you’ve got an outbreak of poison ivy, wild parsnip, or stinging nettle, we can help identify and control it—without disrupting the health of your broader landscape.
From selective herbicide applications to careful, strategic removals, our team is trained to handle hazardous plants so you don’t have to take the risk.
Let us help you care for your green world—safely.