If you see hogweed on your site, you need to get rid of it urgently. It quickly spreads across the territory, suppresses other crops, and its juice, when it comes into contact with the skin, severely burns it. An expert from the Zen channel “GEON.RU | Tool Store” told us how to mow down hogweed on a plot.
Ways to get rid of hogweed
One option is herbicides: they work well against the uninvited guest, but at the same time destroy other plants. After such a chemical attack, the earth can take years to recover.
Another option is to burn the weed. But for this it is important to manage to burn the plant up to 1.5 m deep. If you burn only the above-ground part, then in a year the hogweed will rise from the ashes.
The most effective and proven method remains – mow the hogweed with a trimmer, collect the stems, and get rid of the roots. After this, it is advisable to plow the ground. You can also cover the area with thick black film to block the light – this approach will quickly destroy the weed.
How to mow hogweed correctly
The best time to mow this weed is in late May or early June. During this period, the stems are young and soft, and the hogweed itself has not yet had time to grow and throw out its seed umbels. The lower the cut, the more effective. Remove the seed and flowering umbels first, if present, and then the stems: this approach will prevent the seeds from spreading.
You will have to repeat mowing 4-5 times per season. For these purposes, purchase a powerful garden trimmer – with a disc and a straight bar. Don’t even use fishing line, as thick stems will quickly tear it. An ordinary lawn mower is guaranteed to break in the fight against hogweed.
Once you have mowed the hogweed, take a shovel and dig up the remaining roots.
Safety precautions
Hogweed can only be mowed in dry weather, since the sap runs the risk of splashing when it rains. But if you do get a burn and develop blisters, consult your doctor immediately.
When working, use a protective mask, goggles, thick gloves, long light-colored clothing (drops of juice are invisible on dark ones) and high boots with hard toes.
The mowed remains must be burned, otherwise the seeds may spread throughout your area and the neighbor’s.
