How to Get Rid of Hogweed Plants

Hogweed is an invasive plant that can quickly take over gardens and yards. With its huge size and ability to cause painful blisters it’s no wonder most homeowners want to get rid of hogweed as soon as it appears. While removing mature hogweed takes effort control is possible with persistence. Let’s explore the best ways to successfully eradicate hogweed for good.

Know Your Enemy: Identifying Hogweed Plants

There are several hogweed species, but the most problematic in many regions are:

• Giant hogweed – Massive in size up to 20 feet tall with enormous leaves and flower heads. Stems have purple splotches and coarse white hairs.

• Common hogweed – Grows up to 10 feet tall with finely hairy stems and large umbels of white flowers Leaves are deeply lobed

• Cow parsnip – Resembles giant hogweed but only reaches 6 feet tall. Leaves are oval shaped.

All produce sap containing toxic chemicals that cause phototoxic skin reactions. Giant hogweed is the most dangerous and difficult to remove. Any hogweed can spread quickly once established.

Why Get Rid of Hogweed?

Failure to control hogweed leads to:

• Skin burns, blistering rashes, and increased sun sensitivity from contact with sap.

• Rapid growth and proliferation of plants, crowding out desirable species.

• Establishment of deep root systems that are hard to fully remove.

• Spread of seeds that leads to expanding infestations.

• Reduced biodiversity and ecological damage.

Controlling hogweed protects property, people, native plants and animals. It also avoids legal issues since hogweed appears on noxious weed lists in many areas.

Timing Is Key for Removal

Plan hogweed removal based on the plant’s growth stages:

• Spring – Plants emerge and form leaves, stems and flower buds.

• Early summer – Flowering and pollination occur, setting seed.

• Midsummer – Seeds mature and disperse while plants decline.

• Fall – Above ground parts die back, roots prepare for winter dormancy.

For best results, remove hogweed either in spring or late fall when energy reserves are lowest. Avoid spreading seeds or disturbing nesting wildlife when scheduling removal.

Organic Hogweed Removal Methods

Controlling hogweed organically avoids herbicide toxicity concerns but requires diligence. Options include:

• Cutting stems and flower heads – Severing stems just below ground prevents seed formation. Repeat cutting weekly through summer.

• Digging up roots – Use a shovel, pickaxe or weed wrench to remove as much of the taproot as possible to prevent regrowth.

• Covering plants – Smother hogweed with tarps, cardboard or mulch to block sunlight and kill leaves.

• Livestock grazing – Goats, pigs and sheep will readily eat hogweed and help suppress growth. Fence animals into affected areas.

• Burning – Carefully timed burns can destroy above ground hogweed if other methods fail. Seek expert guidance on controlled burning.

For best results, combine two or more methods and monitor areas for missed roots or seedlings.

Herbicide Use for Hogweed

While organic approaches are ideal, herbicide application by qualified experts is sometimes the only practical option, especially for extensive infestations.

• Glyphosate – Applied in spring directly to leaves, this systemic herbicide translocates to the roots for more complete kill. Use special caution near water.

• 2,4-D or triclopyr – These broadleaf-specific herbicides selectively kill hogweed without harming grasses. Avoid drift onto desired plants.

• Imazapyr – This soil-residual herbicide stops germination of hogweed seeds. It may have long lasting impacts on planting beds.

Always read herbicide labels thoroughly and follow all safety precautions. Multiple applications are usually needed.

Hand Removal Precautions

When digging or cutting hogweed, protect yourself by:

• Wearing waterproof gloves, long sleeves, pants, and goggles.

• Working on overcast days when sap reactions are less severe.

• Bathing exposed skin in soapy water immediately after contact with plants.

• Bagging and disposing of plant debris in sealed containers, not by composting.

• Avoiding inhaling pollen that can trigger allergies.

Share precautions with anyone assisting in removal efforts.

Control and Prevention After Removal

To prevent hogweed from returning:

• Monitor sites weekly for new shoots or seedlings and remove immediately.

• Plant or seed cleared areas with native groundcovers to suppress weeds.

• Install root barriers around planting beds to block taproot penetration.

• Clean tools, boots, tires and machinery after working in infested areas to limit spread.

• Pull young plants in early spring before they can reproduce.

• Mow or weed whack areas before flowers set seed.

• Report uncontrolled hogweed patches to authorities for professional removal.

• Educate neighbors and community groups about hogweed risks.

Diligent follow-up after initial eradication is key to successful long-term control of hogweed.

Seeking Professional Help

Extensive or mature giant hogweed infestations often require professional removal. Services include:

• Site evaluation and risk assessment.

• Development of customized, multi-year removal plans.

• Expert herbicide application with appropriate safety measures.

• Follow-up monitoring and treatment of regrowth.

• Safe transport and disposal of hazardous plant debris.

• Environmental protection guidance to limit herbicide and seed spread.

Licensed applicators have specialized training, protective gear and liability coverage for dealing with dangerous invasive weeds like hogweed. Seeking their assistance can save time, reduce risks and improve outcomes when faced with overwhelming infestations.

While it takes commitment to eradicate, hogweed is beatable with consistent effort. Understand the plant’s growth habits and employ organic manual removal techniques for young plants or small areas of growth. Turn to qualified professionals when mature giant hogweed is too extensive to tackle alone. Stopping viable seeds, removing taproots completely and monitoring for years after are key to ensuring hogweed stays gone for good. With a strategic approach and persistence, you can reclaim your property from this hazardous invader.