Russians were told inexpensive ways to combat hogweed

There are inexpensive and proven ways to combat hogweed, but these methods are especially effective in small areas, said Roman Oparin, associate professor of the Department of General Biology and Bioecology at the State University of Education. He shared his opinion in a conversation with Lenta.ru.

As the first method, Oparin named manual mowing, which should be done 2-3 times per season strictly before flowering at the end of May. He explained that the plant should be cut below the root collar, 5-10 centimeters from the ground. The effectiveness of this method is up to 90 percent with regular repetition for 3-5 years, he added.

"Another method is scalding with boiling water. Pour boiling water into the base of the stem and the root zone. Repeat 2-3 times with an interval of 5-7 days. The efficiency reaches 70-80 percent for young plants. Among the advantages of this method is its environmental friendliness, and among the disadvantages is the labor intensity and the possibility of using it only for small areas," the expert said.

Oparin added that covering with dark material is also effective. To do this, you need to use a dense black film at least 200 microns thick, and the covering period lasts at least 2 full seasons, he specified. According to the expert, the effectiveness of this method is up to 95 percent. A slightly less effective method is pouring a concentrated solution of table salt into the stem cavity after cutting. However, this method can salt the soil and make it unsuitable for growing crops, Oparin warned.

Earlier, summer residents were told how to get rid of lichen on trees. To combat them, it is necessary to prune trees in a timely manner, whitewash the trunks in spring and autumn, and also spray them with a 3-5 percent solution of ferrous sulfate.