Horsetail... again!!!

Yorkie1

I think you need to research the use of chemicals to control pests and weeds more carefully.

It is illegal to use a product for a purpose for which it is not licensed or by a user for whom it is not licensed.

Jeyes fluid is licensed for disinfectant purposes now, but not for herbicide (herbicide is included in the definition of pesticide) use on land.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Advice/Garden-chemicals-and-pesticides/Chemicals

Ammonium sulphamate's licence expired in 2008 and therefore is no longer legal for amateurs to use
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden.asp?id=1997

Kurtail is only licensed for use by professionals
https://secure.pesticides.gov.uk/pestreg/getfullproduct.asp?productid=24196&pageno=1&origin=prodsearch

Asulox likewise is licensed only for use by professionals
https://secure.pesticides.gov.uk/pestreg/getfullproduct.asp?productid=20310&pageno=1&origin=prodsearch

Davesnave

Yorkie1 wrote: »

I think you need to research the use of chemicals to control pests and weeds more carefully.

It is illegal to use a product for a purpose for which it is not licensed or by a user for whom it is not licensed.

Yes, I said it was possible, and while it is possible there is little chance that anyone will be prosecuted.

'Amateurs cannot use professional products unless they have a Certificate of Competence which enables them to do so. However, there is no legal responsibility on the seller to ensure that the customer has the appropriate certification.'

From: Code of Practice for suppliers of pesticides to agriculture, horticulture and forestry

At present it's a 'nudge, nudge wink wink' situation, but as I've said already, I'm sure that will change.

TheMoneySpider

Is that the same as marestail? So invasive and tenacious....absolutely hate that stuff. Since the councils have cut-back I notice it more and more gorwing everywhere

Yorkie1

TheMoneySpider wrote: »

Is that the same as marestail? So invasive and tenacious....absolutely hate that stuff. Since the councils have cut-back I notice it more and more gorwing everywhere

Yes, it is (or at least the common names are used interchangeably depending on local dialect).

angelavdavis

kazschow wrote: »

I read about the bruising it and spraying, but seriously how do you bruice 2 acres!!! I think it's trying to kill me before I kill it!

Invite your buddies over for a crop circle making party?:D

AndersonButler

TheMoneySpider wrote: »

Is that the same as marestail? So invasive and tenacious....absolutely hate that stuff. Since the councils have cut-back I notice it more and more gorwing everywhere

Interesting article here on marestail and horsetail.

It looks as though it is very difficult to control with chemicals, even if it if it kills the top part - it will come back again.

http://www.sherriff-amenity.com/technical.asp?newsid=3

Old_Wrinkly

Of course it is hard to kill - it has been around for millions of years (since the Cretaceous, possible earlier).
You don't survive that long by being a pushover.

It can be hard to dig far enough down to get at the rhizome (the only really permanent solution is to remove that).
But the question to ask is why is it ONLY where it is, and not everywhere. It likes damp soils, especially acid ones. So if this is the issue, then treating the soil can be helpful.

If you pull up what you see above ground, especially the spore-bearing stalks, then this will also weaken the overall effect of the plant.

kazschow

I live in the west of scotland, damp soil goes with the territory unfortunately heheheee AD a crop circle party sounds like a goer lol

Yorkie1

Regular hoeing will weaken it. Never let it see a Sunday, I've heard it said.

stilernin

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Regular hoeing will weaken it. Never let it see a Sunday, I've heard it said.

Yorkie, is this from personal experience? I ask because I have been advised to always pull it up and not hoe it.

As it grows from the tiniest bit of root, won't it grow again from the hoed off tops? Or does it only grow again from brown root rather than green tops IYSWIM.

If you have found hoeing to be worthwhile, I would certainly change to that method. I've only had this plot since Jan but digging out the horsetail before hoeing has been a pain.