Horsetail Eradication
Posted: April 27th, 2010 | Author: tejvan | Filed under: Weeds and Treatments | 7 Comments »
Horsetail is a tough weed. Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia telmateia), has been around for over 60 million years, so don’t be surprised if it is tough to get rid of!
It is not impossible to remove, but, you will need patience and perseverance.
Dealing With Horsetail
- Digging Horsetail.
- The problem with horsetail is that its roots can be over 1 metre under the ground. Also the roots are very thin and easily break.
- However, at the start of a horsetail clearance it is worth trying to dig some of the higher roots from the soil as this will weaken the food reserves and plant.
- The important thing is to wait for the soil to dry out, as this makes it easier to dig more of the root out. If you have a light crumbly soil it will be more easier. It is difficult in a clay soil.
- Dig the spade a foot into the ground and look out for the black roots, shake away the soil and try and keep as much of the root as possible.
- One problem with digging horsetail is that if you break up the roots into many different pieces you may actually end up creating more plants, as it only needs one inch of root to regenerate. Never use a cultivator.
- Important: Before putting roots on compost, make sure you leave for a few days to dry out (or alternatively you can dunk in water).
- The horsetail will almost certainly return. You can try repeatedly hoeing until the plant loses all energy. But, prepared to do it frequently and repeatedly. It may take more than one growing season.
Weedkiller for Horsetail.
- Glyphospate (Round UP) does damage the plant. After repeated applications you should be able to kill the plant.
Try crushing the leaves before applying the weedkiller, this enables the weedkiller to get right into the plant. After a day or so, the weedkiller will turn the leaves brown – a sign it has damaged it. The plant will regrow, but, after 5 or 6 applications the weed should be killed off. Hopefully!
- Roundup Weedkiller concentrate. Good for large areas which need treating.
Related
- Weedkillers at Amazon.co.uk
- Weedkillers at Focus DIY
[...] Dealing with horsetail. Has been around for 60 million years, if you have some in your garden you will see why. One of the [...]
[...] the case of weeds like horsetail, it can really test your patience as it can be years of weeding before you clear the garden of [...]
[...] Glyphosate weed killer will have an effect and eventually kill the plant. Apply at least 3-4 times. Crush the leaves to create an entry point. [...]
How is this plant wiped out when it is in artostapholis? It is a broadleaf plant?
I have read it is eaten in Japan!
I don’t think Equisetum telmatia has been around for 60 million years (unless you really know differently), but its relatives certainly have been on earth for at leat 300 million years when some of them (Calamites) grew to the size of trees. Botanically, horsetails (please don’t call them ‘marestails’ – which are aquatic flowering plants) are in the fern group, producing spores from the cone-shaped heads that appear before the foliage.
You live and learn.
As I haven’t been around for 60 million years I bow to superior knowledge. Thanks