Advice please on creating a new raised lawn over wetland with Giant Hogweed

[yawningdog]

I am buying a house that I will demolish & replace with a new one. In the garden, the existing lawn descends gently down to a nice stream/river. But, between the upper parts of the lawn and the stream is an area of 1,500 square meters that consists of soft wet ground. This entire area is covered with Giant Hogweed and some clumps of tall trees.

This area could look lovely if I could raise & clear the ground and extend the lawn from the house down to the stream.

This is what I am thinking about doing, but would be grateful for any comments or easier/cheaper suggestions...

1) Cut the stalks of the largest Hogweeds and lay flat. ( I am fully aware about how dangerous this stuff is).

2) Lay 1,500 sqm of weed fabric over the entire area to keep out the Hogweed and restrict the rubble fill from sinking into the mud..

3) Demolish the house and use the brick rubble to raise the lawn by about 40cm and incorporate a French Drain system to the stream.

4) Lay another layer of weed fabric over the brick rubble.

5) Lay down 30cm of top soil 6) Seed for the lawn. Am I going over the top here? I need to create a drain'able surface but do I need so much fabric? I don't want to give the Hogweed a chance to come up. Will the top soil remain in place over the weed fabric or could it wash away?

Thanks, Guy.

New Forest, Hampshire, UK

[despen]

In the US you'd be messing with wetlands and need some serious permits.

I've never seen hogweed here in the US. I just read about it though. Doesn't sound like something I'd want to get up close to. Spray it from a distance, let it die, work your way down the hill.

[hubops]

Giant Hogweed is all-in-the-news here in Southern Ontario for the past few years. I spotted a patch last year and had to really assert myself to the township - to have something done. It's spreading .. are you sure you don't have it in your part of the USA .. ? As for the UK original poster - I'd check the local laws & neighbours - before asking the world wide web for advice ... the removal of this patch of hogweed might mean hiring a big team of specialists with haz-mat suits ... or it might just be a well-timed accident with some weed spray ... Good luck. John T.

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: [e-mail] ---

[despen]

I'm in NJ. Here's what I found:

The infestation is not as widespread in New Jersey as in neighboring states. As of 2006, four sites had been identified in three counties: Morris, Warren and Union.

Since I'm in Union, it's in the area. I'll keep an eye out. It looks like a beautiful plant. Too bad it's not safe.

[David Hare-Scott]

No doubt but why is a lawn necessary?

I have no idea at all about hogweed

Does this house really contain 600 cubic metres of rubble? That sounds impossible to me. My guess is that you would be bringing in many truckloads of fill.

How much will that cost? Around here it would be of the order of the price of a new car. You are talking about 100 mid-sized truckloads of soil. This is turning into some major earthworks.

It looks that way to me. A back of envelope estimate is looking like the price of a small house for this job.

I need to create a drain'able surface

If you are prepared to spend the sort of money that your outline would cost you would be better off hiring expert advice. There are probably much better and cheaper solutions to the problem.

David

[yawningdog]

Thanks for your replies.

I've asked this same question on a few other forums and the response has generally been the same. So it looks like there will not be a new lawn, but an improved use of the land that I already have with added wetland plants etc.

Thanks & bye.

[Billy]

And the crowd goes wild. And the planet thanks you, as do I.