Mares Tail

[fergy]

Hi,
My allotment is plagued by mares tail. The ground was covered with carpeting for five years to no avail. I walk the entire plot every day and remove any shoots I see by hand. I have tried wearing a rubber glove and rubbing each shoot with glyphosate but even this seems to be no use. I really would appreciate any help.

[DavidT]

Unfortunately, Fergy, all you can do is keep digging out as much as you can. Weed killers aren`t very successful for 2 reasons. Firstly, Mares Tail has a waxy coating when the frond has opened and secondly, the root system is vast, it`s been known for the roots to go down in excess of 9 metres.

[Beanybaby]

Hi Fergy,

I have this in my garden too. Lots and lots of it.


Good luck with it. Mine are having a good laugh at me!!!!!

[Lisa MTT]

Grow turnips! Honest - there's something in turnips that mare's tail doesn't like.

Horsetail, recognition and eradication

Lisa

[fergy]

Thanks for your comment Lisa.I found it very interesting because I grow parsnips and turnips in the same raised bed and had never really noticed that while i get a lot of mares tail among the turnips there is none amongst the parsnips so i shall definately look into this further.I only see one problem at the moment tho'.What do I do with 300sq. ft. of parsnips?Joke!
Thankyou again.

[DaveB]

Try bashing the mares tail with the back of a spade to bruise it and then spray with glyphosate. The glyphosate should work if it can access the plant.

[malcolmx]

all greenery will respond to some form of weed killer .there is one that specifically works on mares tail super roundup i think . the waxy coating can be dissolved with hot water and washing up liquid so combine this with the roundup an see if it works

on paths hot salt water works well