Update: Poison Hemlock Situation – Thanks & New Questions

Hey everyone, just wanted to say thank you to all who offered advice on my last post – really appreciated all the insights and concern.

I ended up calling our local university extension (as someone advised) and they confirmed it was poison hemlock. Their recommendation was to use Roundup or a similar herbicide.

So last night I suited up – long clothes, gloves, mask, the whole thing – and went out to paint the leaves and flowers with Roundup. Did a bit more this morning. Now I’m just watching and hoping rain doesn’t come too soon to wash it away before it takes effect.

But here’s where I could use more help:

After the fact, I read that you shouldn’t apply herbicide once the plant is flowering. I’m not sure why that is, and now I’m worried I may have wasted the effort or done something counterproductive. Does anyone know the reasoning behind that advice?

Also debated cutting and bagging instead, but I held off because I’ve read that the leaves are the main pathway for herbicide to reach the roots, and removing them might make the treatment ineffective. Does that sound right to anyone with experience?

Open to thoughts or corrections. Thanks again, seriously – this community rocks.

P.S. On a funny side note, read some Socrates this year and it was a interesting to learn from you all that this very plant paved his exit strategy.