Common hogweed becoming more common

Tig98

I know there's a big problem with giant hogweed and I've only seen genuine "giant" hogweed as in 2m + very occasionally rising over ditches and walls. However I've noticed a lot of common hogweed coming up in the last two years. From usually about 30cm possibly reaching 1.5m or so. I've taken to clipping off the flowered heads and burning them to stop the spread a bit - a brother of mine was very badly scarred when he unknowingly strimmed a bunch of them a few years ago, and I've read it can cause infertility and other issues in cows if ingested.

Anyone else notice a lot of it, even just on the roadsides? I'd hate for it to be the new ragwort / foxglove in 20 years.

kollegeknight

Tig98 wrote: »

I know there's a big problem with giant hogweed and I've only seen genuine "giant" hogweed as in 2m + very occasionally rising over ditches and walls. However I've noticed a lot of common hogweed coming up in the last two years. From usually about 30cm possibly reaching 1.5m or so. I've taken to clipping off the flowered heads and burning them to stop the spread a bit - a brother of mine was very badly scarred when he unknowingly strimmed a bunch of them a few years ago, and I've read it can cause infertility and other issues in cows if ingested.

Anyone else notice a lot of it, even just on the roadsides? I'd hate for it to be the new ragwort / foxglove in 20 years.

It’s bloody everywhere I look on roads etc, even my 5yo warned me about it today. She went for a walk with my brother and his children and he warned them away from it.

Birdnuts

Tig98 wrote: »

I know there's a big problem with giant hogweed and I've only seen genuine "giant" hogweed as in 2m + very occasionally rising over ditches and walls. However I've noticed a lot of common hogweed coming up in the last two years. From usually about 30cm possibly reaching 1.5m or so. I've taken to clipping off the flowered heads and burning them to stop the spread a bit - a brother of mine was very badly scarred when he unknowingly strimmed a bunch of them a few years ago, and I've read it can cause infertility and other issues in cows if ingested.

Anyone else notice a lot of it, even just on the roadsides? I'd hate for it to be the new ragwort / foxglove in 20 years.

Its not common Hogweed then - Giant Hogweed can be confused with it since the latter doesn't always produce larger leaves, especcially in shade away from waterways

Birdnuts

kollegeknight wrote: »

It’s bloody everywhere I look on roads etc, even my 5yo warned me about it today. She went for a walk with my brother and his children and he warned them away from it.

The flowers of Cow and Hedge parsley look very similar so folk might think there is alot more around then is the case.

kollegeknight

Birdnuts wrote: »

The flowers of Cow and Hedge parsley look very similar so folk might think there is alot more around then is the case.

No we definitely have hogweed around. A lot of ditches were uprooted around us to allow for turbines. Foxgloves and hogweed all over the place.

Any I meet on the land, I cover with a black bag and cut and take away. Hate the stuff.

Chisler2

Birdnuts wrote: »

The flowers of Cow and Hedge parsley look very similar so folk might think there is alot more around then is the case.

Distinguishing between hogweed and Giant Hogweed is surprisingly difficult. Both are spreading profusely along the road-verges here in Mayo these past four years, probably due to increased rainfall and higher temperatures. I have been topping Giant Hogweed .......the one with the crimson spots along the ridged stem and circles of bristles at the nodes..........which has established in my young tree plantation.



I wear a protective onesie, wellies, a perspex visor and thick suede gauntlets and try to lop the plants as far below the soil-level as possible and before they set seed.



There is a comment above on cutting the heads and burning them. Afaik the fumes are not too good for human lungs so beware. I shall try to put up a picture but don't know much about tecchi processes and usually my pics fail to load up.

patsy_mccabe

http://invasivespecies.ie/invasive-plants-japanese-knotweed/giant-hogweed/

drdidlittle

Birdnuts wrote: »

Its not common Hogweed then - Giant Hogweed can be confused with it since the latter doesn't always produce larger leaves, especcially in shade away from waterways

Got badly burnt from common hog weed. Strimming + Sun + Skin = bad blistered skin. I know it's common as it only grows to about 1 meter

looksee

drdidlittle wrote: »

Got badly burnt from common hog weed. Strimming + Sun + Skin = bad blistered skin. I know it's common as it only grows to about 1 meter

Daughter did the same, very bad scars after blistered rash on her arms and throat after one strimming session without the usual covering.

minerleague

Tig98 wrote: »

I know there's a big problem with giant hogweed and I've only seen genuine "giant" hogweed as in 2m + very occasionally rising over ditches and walls. However I've noticed a lot of common hogweed coming up in the last two years. From usually about 30cm possibly reaching 1.5m or so. I've taken to clipping off the flowered heads and burning them to stop the spread a bit - a brother of mine was very badly scarred when he unknowingly strimmed a bunch of them a few years ago, and I've read it can cause infertility and other issues in cows if ingested.

Anyone else notice a lot of it, even just on the roadsides? I'd hate for it to be the new ragwort / foxglove in 20 years.

have giant hogweed along riverbank, mostly behind electric fence but cows go mad for any they can reach. where did you read about infertility etc. ?.
OPW or fisheries spray it every so often but it survives ( large no of seeds)