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Replies

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  David Grimes August 26, 2010 at 7:25am

  Hi David
  We have these areas of tarmac that up cracking badly due to Mares Tail.
  
  We use Gallup Hi-Aktiv or try Kibosh - Have been told very hard thing to totally get rid of
  so is a case of keeping on top of it as the stems are spore bearing.
  
  hope this helps
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  Graeme @ BGS August 26, 2010 at 8:24am

  I have had great success in getting rid (or at least controlling it!!) the horrible stuff by using Nu-Shot
• PRO

  Will - WB Design & Construction August 26, 2010 at 8:25am

  I have used round up pro biactive 450 succesfully, if you can spray successfully that is great, if not try a weedwiper.
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  Claire Brown August 26, 2010 at 9:20am

  Hi David, - Mares tail is a nightmare, and having been round since the dinasaurs so is likely to outlive us!, but having had it in both my childhood garden, and my holiday garden in france, it can be lessened to the point where you are beating it. - The others all have great ideas for chemicals, but as Stuart says - only good if there are no other plants there that you want to keep. - The best time of year to get rid of it is late May June, - so we are a bit late now, - but pulling gently rather than ripping it off (where is creates more tails) is the way to do it.
  more details here
  http://plant-passion.typepad.com/plant_passion/2010/06/nightmare-of...
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  Cesare Harradine August 26, 2010 at 10:22am

  I keep plugging away with glyphosate. Seems to do the trick in the end. I don't think any thing knocks it out in one blow.
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  David Grimes August 26, 2010 at 10:47am

  David Horsetail tends to thrive in poor soil conditions
  Try improving the soil with organic matter
  A single cone of fertile stem can release 100.000 spores
  and a 10cm length of rhizome can produce a total of 64m of rhizome in 1 year
  and has potential to cover 1 hectare in a single year
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  Geoff Norfolk August 26, 2010 at 11:09am

  from what I've read, the rhizomes can be a metre or so down where most soil conditions are poor....... if the stuffs growing in a bed, I just give the bed a quick hoe through on each regular visit and its kept under control......
  
  David Grimes said:

  David Horsetail tends to thrive in poor soil conditions
  Try improving the soil with organic matter
  A single cone of fertile stem can release 100.000 spores
  and a 10cm length of rhizome can produce a total of 64m of rhizome in 1 year
  and has potential to cover 1 hectare in a single year
• 

  Claire Brown August 26, 2010 at 12:34pm

  I have to disagree with the hoeing. - That is great for annual weeds, where you can take of the tops and the roots will die but for perennial such as marestail and ground elder, Hoeing will break the stems which will encourage them to grow again with vigour, - pull out perennials or weedkill if not organic.
  
  Geoff Norfolk said:

  from what I've read, the rhizomes can be a metre or so down where most soil conditions are poor....... if the stuffs growing in a bed, I just give the bed a quick hoe through on each regular visit and its kept under control......
  
  David Grimes said:

  David Horsetail tends to thrive in poor soil conditions
  Try improving the soil with organic matter
  A single cone of fertile stem can release 100.000 spores
  and a 10cm length of rhizome can produce a total of 64m of rhizome in 1 year
  and has potential to cover 1 hectare in a single year
• 

  Matt August 26, 2010 at 3:59pm

  Not near a watercourse is it?
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  Mike Bradley August 26, 2010 at 8:30pm

  I hve recently used Kibosh. Initial results are excellent so should be worth a try.