Giant Hogweed

Giant Hogweed produces a toxic sap which reacts to light (particularly sunlight) on the skin. Contact with the plant may cause effects ranging from a mild rash to watery blisters to possible chronic dermatitis, all of which may require hospital treatment.

You need to control it – you can do this yourself or pay someone to do it for you. Control is not difficult or dangerous if you take easy precautions, but it does take several seasons to get rid of, as there will be many seeds and seedlings.

This is best started in April or May.

Herbicide – this is best when the plants are young. A garden herbicide with Glyphosate (contact herbicide) kills plants when they are small. Please follow the instructions on the packet and check after 2 weeks to make sure that all the plants are dying. Re-apply if necessary.

Cutting – cutting the plant repeatedly throughout the season will stop it from flowering and it will die eventually. Wear long sleeves and gloves – keep the sap off your skin – and wash everything afterwards.

Digging – if you have only a few plants, dig them up, making sure you cut the tap root at least 10 cm (4 inches) below ground level and shake all the soil from the root. To prevent any possible spread, do not take the plant away (and do not put it in your brown bin, if you have one). Let it rot, with the roots exposed to dry out. Wear long sleeves and gloves – keep the sap off your skin – and wash everything afterwards.

Keep checking – which ever treatment you use, check it, and make sure you have got them all. And do the same thing next year. Be thorough and there will be less and less!

The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended) allows for the regulation of giant hogweed. The main aim of this legislation is to prevent the release of plants such as giant hogweed in the first place and to stop them becoming established. In addition land owners are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent plants (eg hogweed) under their control from escaping into the wild. More information on this legislation can be found by visiting the UK Government website.

In certain circumstances Local Authorities have powers to deal with giant hogweed when it is growing on land. Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, allows for enforcement action to be taken where the giant hogweed is, or is likely to be, prejudicial to health. Such circumstances may include where the giant hogweed is growing along pathways or is growing on land which is easily accessible to users or passers-by.

Volunteer groups are helping control Giant Hogweed. Contact Dighty Connect or Dundee Conservation Volunteers to find out their next work day.