Horse tail

Alibuster01 · 11 May 2007 at 5:37PM

Hi, I'm new to this board and new to outdoor gardening:T. I've just bought a derelict house and I'm clearing the back garden before work starts on the house.
A couple of weeks ago my brother & I hacked back a huge amount of bramble etc (& uncovered a pond and a concrete bunker-type structure!).
Anyhow, I went back yesterday and found horse tail growing up across a big swathe of the small garden. Now I don't know what to do.
Does Amcide work on horse tail (we were going to use it on some tree stumps)? Would covering it with black plastic kill it off? I've read that the root system spreads horizontally and also vertically to a depth of 5 feet and can stay active for years.
Any information and suggestions gratefully received!

nodwah · 12 May 2007 at 12:16AM

This stuff is murder as we say in Glasgow. I struggled with it in my last house and was glad to leave it behind.
You're in for the long haul I'm afriad. Try blasting it with anything you have (if you're not organic!!), but try to trample it before spraying as this will break it's tough outer layer and let the chemical in. Then as a combined attack cover it all thickly to exclude light and you might just weaken it a bit!
I heard the great Bob Flowerdew saying once that he even covered it over with tarmac or concrete and it still grew through.
I reckon it's a matter of containment, sorry!

Jayar · 12 May 2007 at 12:19AM

You knlow they used to use this stuff to scrub out pots in the kitchen - guess that was before pot scourers were invented
Not a lot of help I know, but hey I just thought I'd slip that little gem of information in
Oh, and welcome

Gorrafewquidnow · 12 May 2007 at 1:20AM

This stuff is murder!!!

Trample it to break the skin then roundup and more roundup and then a bit more roundup!!

Keep trampling it before spraying. Good luck !!!

Penelope_Penguin · 12 May 2007 at 6:36AM

Welcome Alibuster!

We have it too. I try to dig out small pieces, then in the Autumn trample it and spray with glyphosate.

DH calls it *meccano plant* as you can pull the top pieces off, then reattach them! Another piece of interesting information!

It's a nightmare, so best of luck.

Nikki · 12 May 2007 at 9:32AM

Alibuster01 wrote: »

I've read that the root system spreads horizontally and also vertically to a depth of 5 feet and can stay active for years.
Any information and suggestions gratefully received!

Root systems have been found 40ft deep on cliff faces. Horsetail is a herb not a weed and is a plant left over from prehistoric times. Romans used it to clean their pots and pans and because of their high level of silica it made the pots and pans non stick. We also have horsetail in our garden and have resigned ourselves to the fact we are unlikely to get rid of it

.

Coveredinbees!!!! · 12 May 2007 at 10:47AM

Phew that's one thing I haven't got in my jungle good luck with that one.

Alibuster01 · 14 May 2007 at 12:36PM

Sounds like I'm in for a lot of hard work... I don't fancy tarmacing over the garden, especially if that doesn't work either! Oh well. This is an inspirational website & I'll be back for more when I'm further along no doubt!

Missy79 · 14 May 2007 at 7:36PM

A friend advised me to try a mix of weedkiller and washing-up liquid rubbed on by hand (rubber gloved of course) as this helps break down the waxy coating. I haven't tried it yet though as still flattening my garden (when I can see it under all the horsetails).