Giant Hogweed

[coasty]

I was on a working party down our river last night with 6 other members my job was to clear the giant hogweed plants before the strimmer came through to clear a footpath. In places they were forming groups like small stands of trees. The largest ones were probablyy 5 to 6m tall with stems around 100mm diameter, Just how big do these babies get? It was like felling trees.

[RobinP]

Yours sound about the top end of the range, they can reach 7 metres in height though.

[mrs fish]

They do damage to your skin in the hot weather

They do look impressive though

[wildlifesnapper]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

They do damage to your skin in the hot weather

Yes , some info here

Giant Hogweed Burns - Heracleum mantegazzianum

neil

[ron1863]

They are dangerous, we had an incident in the papers up here a couple of years ago of some boys who were using the stems as pea shooters ending up in hospital with severe burns to their mouths.

[aeshna5]

They are spectacular looking plants but invasive. I have plenty near me, though the council do spray a proportion of them each year.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

They are spectacular looking plants but invasive. I have plenty near me, though the council do spray a proportion of them each year.

Spray, now why didn't someone on coasty's working party think of that.....

[coasty]

Originally Posted by djackso

Spray, now why didn't someone on coasty's working party think of that.....

because our gorgeous river runs through a SSSI and the hogweed are mixed through all the other bankside vegetation....

They are dangerous, we had an incident in the papers up here a couple of years ago of some boys who were using the stems as pea shooters ending up in hospital with severe burns to their mouths.

I am aware of all the health and safety issuesThanks

Was just amazed how big these mothers were

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by coasty

because our gorgeous river runs through a SSSI and the hogweed are mixed through all the other bankside vegetation....

it is possible to weed wipe them which is arguably more effective than chopping them down but you need a herbicide which is certified for use near water courses (glyphosate isnt anymore)

we normally just clobber them with a flail mower - the top deck contains any splashing sap and protects the operator - also if you hit them early in the season they dont regrow as big.