Can anyone tell me what this is please? Pic inc

mutley74

more info here
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=257

http://www.allotment.org.uk/grow-your-own/weeds-and-what-to-do

we have had this problem for a number of years. Each yeari have tried pulling the week out and trying to pull the roots too. Also tried using strong application of round up which usually kill the visible growth of the weed but find it grows back a few weeks/months later.

No idea how this weed came to our front driveaway and not infected any neighbours house, but fingers crossed it does not reach the back garden.

mutley74

pulled all this weed from our blocked paved drive which was a nuisance, then a deep spray with weed killer. but few days later growth is seen every where.

anyone else had much luck with this weed, its everywhere on on front and a few other areas on the street.

adouglasmhor

savageHK wrote: »

I'm fairly sure burning it isn't going to do anything - the roots are very long and I suspect you might as well just keep plucking at the shoots, it will take as much effort.

When you use a flame gun on weeds, you should not burn them down, what to do is singe them until they go dark or just start to wilt. the roots will then try to repair the damage and the plant will become exhausted and eventually die, a few treatments may be needed.

traceye

Had it for 25 yrs in old house tried everything still there

adouglasmhor

They love wet damp soil, improve drainage and keep on at them and you will get them under control even if you never get rid of them.

Constant_Gardener

"They love wet damp soil, improve drainage and keep on at them and you will get them under control even if you never get rid of them."

Good advice but unfortunately, 'improving drainage' would be a big challenge this summer! My well is nearly overflowing!

adouglasmhor

It's a big challenge every year for me, west of Scotland and soil I could throw pots with. Grit sand and lime help me.

mutley74

Constant_Gardener wrote: »

"They love wet damp soil, improve drainage and keep on at them and you will get them under control even if you never get rid of them."

Good advice but unfortunately, 'improving drainage' would be a big challenge this summer! My well is nearly overflowing!

we had the drive relaid (block paving) and in some areas the builder places some sheeting under the sand before the blocks, but some how their seeds must spread in the wind as they grow with roots spreading under the blocks.

TheMoneySpider

It's truly vile stuff, just keep pulling it up every time you see it. If it takes hold it'll be everywhere

waveneygnome

Apologies for arriving late in this reply, but I also have/had the same problem.

I gave up on pulling the stuff out 4 yrs ago, and used landscapers fabric membrane and put slate over the top of the whole area............but..........the mares tail still grows through it.

I have never used chemical weedkillers before in my life, but a contract gardener friend suggested the concentrated round up route - I stamped on the shoots first to break open the walls of the plant, then sprayed. .............it sort of burnt some of the side shoots, but didn't touch the main shoots.......and it keep growing.

Now its my obsession to rid my garden of the stuff, and I have googled all over the internet trying to find a solution, and tried many different methods.

Last year, in desperation I stumbled across the Progreen website selling 'Kurtail' which clams to kill mares tail.

I persuaded my gardener friend to buy it for me (I think its professional use only), and spray the area. I stamped on the shoots first though to crush/break open the walls.

I have to say I was amazed that 4 days later the mares tail had turned crispy brown and had been killed off. I left them another week then simply gathered all the dead tips up.

It has not cured the problem entirely - this spring its shoots were appearing again, although admitedly to a lesser amount. I waited until they were 5 inches or so high, and got my friend to blitz them again with the chemical. It killed the shoots off within a week again.

I have resigned my self that this could be an annual task - but I have to say that the chemical does kill it off for a season.

I think it cost about £30 plus p&p, Ive used mine for 2 seasons and I'm not even half way through the bottle. (So assuming it doesn't have a hearth life, it should last me 5 yrs of spraying)

I have no idea what effect this could have on neigbouring plants if it accidentally drifted onto them - but I guess not good! The area I spray is just covered with slate with no planting.

I would think for driveways, patios etc where there are no nearby plants then this would be a good solution.............assuming you are happy to spray chemicals in the environment!

Hope this helps fellow mares tail sufferers.