Learn what giant ragweed looks like and how to get rid of it in your garden.
Giant Ragweed Identification
Giant ragweed is indigenous to North America. It can be found in Canada and every state in the continental United States except Nevada, with a substantial infestation in Ohio. It thrives in disturbed soils along with row crops like corn and is frequently found along roadsides. Under the right growing conditions, there is one characteristic of giant ragweed that you can’t miss: its height. It is not uncommon for this plant to stand 15 feet tall or more. The stalk on such a plant will be thicker than a broom handle, and it might bear many large branches. However, the plant is otherwise unremarkable, even as often-nondescript weeds go. Giant ragweed bears inconspicuous yellow-green flowers, and its foliage doesn’t offer much interest. The shapes of the individual leaves from this plant can vary greatly. On one single plant, some leaves can have three lobes (its most common leaf type) while other leaves can have five lobes. This variation in leaf shape makes identification somewhat tricky.
Giant Ragweed and Pollen
As with many plants considered baneful in the 21st century, giant ragweed once was used medicinally in years past. But when people think of the plant nowadays, one aspect about it commonly comes to mind: fall allergies. Giant ragweed is a primary source of the pollen that causes hay fever. Goldenrod is commonly blamed for causing such hay fever. But goldenrod is merely a victim of circumstance: It just happens to bloom at the same time of year (late summer to early fall) as ragweed. Being by far the more conspicuous of the two, goldenrod has become the scapegoat for fall allergies. However, goldenrod pollen is sticky and can be spread only by insects, not by wind. By contrast, ragweed pollen floats off the plants easily on the gentlest of breezes.
Getting Rid of Giant Ragweed
Ragweed spreads via seed, so efforts to eradicate it should focus on preventing seed production. Frequent mowing in the spring and summer in uncultivated areas will help reduce seed formation. Hand-pulling in the early spring before flowering is the best method to get rid of giant ragweed. Early eradication prevents seeds from forming. The plant’s roots are shallow and come out of the ground easily. However, make sure to wear thick gardening gloves and long sleeves and pants, as ragweed sap can cause skin irritation for some people.
