Grrr. Even Roundup won't shift this long thin Spiney weed

lancslass2008

Hope someone can help here

around the edges of my Garden (where the edging stones meet the pavement) I have a fast growing weed that I just can't get rid of. It is a long thin Spiney green thing about as thick as a piece of Spagetti and has other shoots coming off it. It is not sharp or prickly and seems to break easilly if I stand on it. I have noticed it around the side of my house growing up through cracks in the drive or next to the Wall. I have noticed it once or twice on the lawn if I haven't cut it for a few weeks, although cutting seems to rid it on the lawn. However, at the side of the house and at the edge of the lawn where it's concrete, I can't mow it down. So, what is this weed that seems to grow better where there are cracks or joins in the concrete than it does on the lawn? And how do I get rid of it? I've tried Roundup but that seems useless but even if that did kill it I can't spray the ones next to the lawn edging stones.

Any ideas please???

Ps A neighbour says it is Witches or Gypsy Grass?????

Lotus-eater

Horsetail?

lancslass2008

Hi Lotus

Yes, that's the !!!!!!! Shown in the link below. Thank you.

Now, how do I get rid of the thing?



http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/horsetail.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/horsetail.htm&usg=__sJLkGPclGBQKa-4iEMvrlqjszP0=&h=488&w=308&sz=27&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=OohGzZnJ0L80MM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhorsetail%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1020%26bih%3D530%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=460&vpy=152&dur=6848&hovh=283&hovw=178&tx=119&ty=168&ei=-C9tTLfRB4_n4AbwvpTzCg&oei=-C9tTLfRB4_n4AbwvpTzCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0

sassyblue

hi lancs, we've got that in our garden around the edge by the field at the back, l've just been pulling it up and until l followed your link (thanks) l didn't know what it was. Pulling it up seems to work for me although it grows back it's getting less and less.

I'm not sure if l've been any help to you :cool:

Farway

lancslass2008 wrote: »

Hi Lotus

Yes, that's the !!!!!!! Shown in the link below. Thank you.

Now, how do I get rid of the thing?



http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/horsetail.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/horsetail.htm&usg=__sJLkGPclGBQKa-4iEMvrlqjszP0=&h=488&w=308&sz=27&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=OohGzZnJ0L80MM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhorsetail%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1020%26bih%3D530%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=460&vpy=152&dur=6848&hovh=283&hovw=178&tx=119&ty=168&ei=-C9tTLfRB4_n4AbwvpTzCg&oei=-C9tTLfRB4_n4AbwvpTzCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0

You will never get rid of it completely, it has been on Earth longer than humans first walked on the planet, so as you may guess, it is a tough old bird

At a guess it's long & spindly roots are well under the pavement so you have no chance of digging them out. Your only hope is continuous applications of a systemic weedkiller, such as Roundup

annie123

scroll down to horsetail on here:
http://www.allotment.org.uk/articles/Weeds_and_What_to_do.php

very informative info for you.
It also loves acid soil, so in addition of following the info in the above link, maybe try adding some lime to the soil too? only a thought.

Patchwork_Quilt

A small amount can be killed with boiling water.

Otherwise, tread on it - but not so much that you spread it around. This helps destroy the waxy coating that makes it immune to weedkiller. Then spray it with Resolva, which is in Tesco at the moment.

Whatever you do, don't pick it as it then makes twice as many stalks.

My motto is - constant vigilance, instant action, no mercy.

Yorkie1

In addition to the suggestions above, particularly patchwork quilt's re bruising it before application of glyphosate based weedkiller, weekly hoeing will weaken it too.

esmf73

Its tough to kill with weedkiller because its leaves are almost non existant - so there is no surface area for the weedkiller to act on. So my mum told me. Not sure how you can get rid of it though.

peter_the_piper

The best way to hit these awkward weeds is to wear a pair of long rubber gloves, on top wear a pair of woollen gloves. Mix a solution of rounfup and a small bit of washing up liquid. Dip your gloved hand into the mix and starting at the bottom grasp the weed and pull your hand up to the top. repeat as necessary.

redsam

got loads of the stuff on our allotment, will never get rid of it...but apparently it brings up loads of nutrients from the deep! And apparently its edible...according to Jekka McVicka!