Author Topic: Hogweed (Read 9123 times)

TheGirlsMum · « **on:** May 20, 2011, 02:10:58 pm »

I have got several patches of Hogweed in my field (not where the horses can get to atm) and wondered what I should do about it. I know it causes blisters if in contact with the stems but should I be digging this out to save the horses or what? Thanks in anticipation

ellisr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:16:54 pm »

Can you burn it back with a weed wand or blow torch to boil the roots?

robert waddell · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:40:13 pm »

first fence the area off round up sprayed on the green leafs or injected into the stems dont slash or cut
roundup gets down to the root system and kills it several years of spraying have to be done before you eradicate it
if you dig it out you have to take it to a licenced tip that deals with it very expencive as are the experts it is up to you take the advice here or pay hansomly for an expert it is your call google it as well

Dizzycow · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2011, 03:46:16 pm »

Don't tell anyone, but we've got giant hogweed AND Japanese knotweed. Curses.

TheGirlsMum · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2011, 04:27:42 pm »

Thank you for your replies....food for thought

pasture eyes · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2011, 04:38:31 pm »

Giant Hogweed should not be slashed/cut down as the sap is extremely painful on skin - especially in sunlight. Spray it with a product containing Glyphosate, add 30mils to each litre of water and spray using a medium nozzle on a knapsack sprayer. The seeds have a 15-20 year viability in the soil, so if you haven't done much about it in past years and let it seed - it'll be a long haul. Do it every year when at about a metre tall, usually during April, leave it to die and after about a month when it's dry and crisp - carefully cut it down and burn it.
If it's growing in grass that you don't want to kill, use Pastor or Grazon-90 instead, 8 mils and 6 mils per litre of water respectively, as both products do no harm to established grass. Technically you should have a spraying certificate if you are doing it on another's land and / or for reward. Good Luck

Tiva Diva · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2011, 05:52:30 pm »

Hogweed or giant hogweed? Ordinary hogweed not a problem: you can even eat it!

suziequeue · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2011, 06:12:12 pm »

And pigs love hogweed apparently. I've been trying to grow some in our pig paddock for them next year but - no luck

TheGirlsMum · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2011, 03:34:26 pm »

Thanks for everyones replies. I'm not sure if it's all going to be Giant's Hogweed or just Cow Parsley or just common or garden Hog's Weed but I am gradually managing to kill and dig it out and burn it.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2011, 11:32:26 am »

Ordinary hogweed and cow parsley are perfectly ok and palateable, in fact our sheep relish cow parsley and it adds nutrients which plain grass can't. The only noxious weed which you need to get rid of is Giant Hogweed - it has huge leaves which are very different to both hogweed and cow parsley. I don't know if horses like hogweed or cow parsley though but both will respond to regular scytheing if you want to get rid of it.