Giant Hogweed Removal
Nationwide coverage across all of Scotland
Accredited professionals skilled in both commercial and residential removal
Giant Hogweed removal available for sites ranging from 1m² to over 1000m²
PCA & TrustMark accreditation ensuring quality standards
Outstanding 5-star rating on Google
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Giant Hogweed, a resilient invasive plant, thrives in various habitats like river banks and roadsides, persisting for years and spreading rapidly once established. Professional removal is vital to prevent its aggressive growth, typically involving digging to remove roots and seeds.
At JBB Knotweed Solutions, we assist homeowners, developers, councils and housing associations across the UK with our Giant Hogweed removal services, ensuring safety through exclusion zones and protective clothing. Contact us today for expert assistance.
What is Giant Hogweed?
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a towering plant, reaching heights of 3-5m, with large white flower heads up to 80 cm in diameter and a thick hollow stem. In its first year it develops huge leaves, followed by a flower spike in the second year, when it produces seeds for reproduction. Its jagged leaves and toxic sap pose a risk to health, causing severe burns on your skin.
Identifying Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed stands out with its large, umbrella-shaped flower heads, reaching up to 80 cm in diameter and adorned with numerous small white flowers. Its stems are covered in long bristles and dark reddish-purple blotches, while its leaves are exceptionally large, spanning widths of 1-1.7 metres and featuring deeply incised, jagged shapes.
Throughout its growth stages, Giant Hogweed shows resilience. In spring, it has dark green, spiky leaves growing to heights of 30-50 cm. By summer, ribbed, hollow stems emerge, green with purple blotches, alongside large Giant Hogweed flower heads up to 50 cm across and containing 20,000 – 50,000 seeds. As autumn approaches, mature plants die back, leaving behind woody, brittle stems sometimes with the flower head still intact.
Giant Hogweed propagates through seeds, requiring thorough eradication methods. Flowering typically starts in the second, third or fourth year, with some plants continuing to flower for multiple years. Senescence occurs from late August to September, with plants dying back to the roots, and their winged seeds dispersed by wind, water and soil movement.
Professional Giant Hogweed Eradication
Our Giant Hogweed removal process, conducted by accredited experts, is tailored to both commercial and residential properties:
Manual Control
Our team is equipped to manually remove Giant Hogweed, particularly in smaller areas. We take care to tackle the invasive plants early in the season before they have a chance to flower, and ensure thorough removal of Giant Hogweed seeds. Safety is our priority, so you can trust we’ll have the right PPE and controls in place. For larger infestations, we offer excavation services for effective removal.
Herbicide Control
Herbicides are highly effective for Giant Hogweed treatment. Our approach adheres to current legislation, and we conduct follow-up treatments as needed to address any remaining plants. Trust our skilled team to deliver precise and potent applications, ensuring complete eradication of Giant Hogweed from your property.
Giant Hogweed Removal in Scotland
With our main office in Glasgow and additional branches in Inverness and Ayrshire, we’re equipped to serve every corner of Scotland.
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Perth
Stirling
Dundee
Aberdeen
Dumfries
Fort William
Inverness
Ayr
Kilmarnock
Is Giant Hogweed poisonous?
Giant Hogweed is a dangerous plant and you should avoid coming into contact with it. The plant produces a phototoxic sap which on contact with skin in direct sunlight will cause a rash often progressing into burns and blistering within 24 hours. After exposure the resulting burns can last for several months and the skin may remain sensitive to sunlight for years after.
Controlling Giant Hogweed on your property is essential to ensure a safe environment and prevent this invasive species from spreading further.
What is the difference between Giant Hogweed and Common Hogweed?
The key difference between Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) lies in their size and appearance. Giant Hogweed is much larger, growing up to 5 metres tall, with large white flower heads and thick, hollow stems.
In contrast, native hogweed typically grows to around 1-2 metres tall, with smaller flower heads and thinner stems. Additionally, Giant Hogweed’s sap is toxic and can cause skin burns, while Common Hogweed does not pose the same health risks.
What does the UK law say about Giant Hogweed?
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to allow Giant Hogweed plants to spread into areas out of your boundary. Given that each seed head can produce up to 30,000 seeds, this could happen quicker than you realise. It’s important to take action as soon as possible to avoid fines and higher treatment costs if the infestation spreads.
Why is professional removal necessary?
Professional removal is necessary to effectively and safely eradicate Giant Hogweed. Our accredited experts have the knowledge and experience to handle the plant’s toxic sap and ensure thorough removal, preventing its aggressive spread. DIY removal attempts can be dangerous and ineffective, leading to incomplete eradication and potential health risks.
Is your removal process safe and effective?
Yes, our removal process is both safe and effective. We prioritise safety by employing accredited experts who adhere to strict safety protocols and use appropriate protective clothing.
Our control method is designed to ensure complete eradication of Giant Hogweed while minimising environmental impact. Additionally, our proven track record and outstanding ratings attest to the effectiveness of our removal services.
How do you dispose of Giant Hogweed waste?
Disposing of Giant Hogweed waste requires careful handling. It’s classified as controlled waste, like Japanese Knotweed, so it must be taken to licensed landfill sites with the right paperwork. We carefully remove any plant material, including plants, stems and seeds, to prevent the seed bank from replenishing itself.
Our professional removal services strictly follow regulations to ensure safe and compliant disposal of Giant Hogweed waste, prioritising environmental responsibility.
Protect Your Property Now
Giant Hogweed’s poisonous sap poses serious risks to both humans and animals alike. Meanwhile, its rapid growth can harm native species of plants and contribute to erosion along river banks. Safeguard your property by scheduling a Giant Hogweed survey with JBB Knotweed Solutions today.
We can tell you if you definitely have Japanese Knotweed on your property and recommend the best course of action.