The giant umbrella plant is one of the most dangerous in our nature. Besides, getting rid of it is very difficult.
Once Sosnovsky’s hogweed was sown for livestock feed. And then he went wild, grew and turned into a real threat to summer residents. The fact is that hogweed juice contains photosensitive substances. At first, no sensations. But in the light, there are terrible burns that do not heal for a long time. And in appearance – the plant is even pretty.
The cow parsnip is not afraid of drought and frequent downpours, it is not taken by diseases and is not touched by pests, so there is no point in hoping that it will disappear from the site. He effortlessly grows up to two, or even four meters, clogging all the other plants on the site. The easiest way to overcome this attack is while there are only a couple of bushes in the garden, and not a whole field. Remember, hogweed instantly dissipates and takes up all the space around.
Before starting work, put on closed clothing, gloves and a mask on your face. Root the hogweed. Fill the remaining stump with Tornado or Roundup. If you don’t have them, fill the root with vinegar essence. Cover the poured stump with a piece of polyethylene and tie it tightly with a rope. Burn the ground part immediately. Do not bury it, as the cow parsnip will germinate easily.
Plant Jerusalem artichoke nearby – an earthen pear is also famous for its rare vitality and even drowns out the cow parsnip. But you have to control its growth, otherwise you will change the awl for soap. True, Jerusalem artichoke is still not poisonous.
It is more difficult to fight with thickets of hogweed. Here are some effective ways:
- Herbicides. Not the most reliable method. If the bushes have time to shed their seeds, the thickets will germinate again. In addition, the land will be contaminated with herbicides, and for some time it will not be possible to grow vegetables and other useful plants on it.
- Mowing. This method will help to temporarily stop the hogweed. For him to really help, after mowing, you need to immediately dig up the ground and sow it densely with lawn grass.
- Film coating. The most effective way. In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, cover the area with thickets of hogweed with a thick black film. Cover the plastic with a layer of soil, as weeds can pick it up. Young shoots will die due to lack of air. The film can only be removed at the beginning of next summer. You will not be able to grow vegetables on the site for a whole year, but this is the surest and safest method to fight hogweed for good.
Even if it seems to you that you have finally dealt with this weed, the place where it grew should be controlled for the next 2-3 years. Hogweed seeds do not lose their germination for a long time and can unexpectedly “please” you with new weed thickets in a few years.
The hogweed is a tenacious weed, but it is possible to get rid of it. Use any suitable method, the main thing is to remember the safety rules when working with this poisonous bush.