Giant Hogweed Dying After Herbicide Treatment
Scenes like the one pictured are common across Scotland as the fight against Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) continues. It is an imperative that the Giant hogweed plants are prevented from producing seeds this year in order to reduce the infestations of this invasive weed over the years to come. Due to the large number of seeds each plant may produce (approximately 50,000), it is likely that it will take several years of herbicide treatment to diminish the seed bank present in the soil. If the Giant hogweed is not treated soon then it will be too late to stop this year’s seeds from spreading, which means next year’s infestation could be even greater and so could the removal costs.
If you have Giant hogweed present on your land it is vital that you DO NOT TOUCH IT! The sap is toxic and can cause severe burns and blindness.
If you need any assistance with identifying Giant hogweed or any other invasive weeds (Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Horsetail, etc.) or if you require weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.
IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.
