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Help! Mystery plant/fungus taking over garden

rookedanielle-G11MzQirookedanielle-G11MzQi Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi - can anyone help me identify this strange plant/fungus I keep finding in my garden? It emerges from the ground in clusters with a deep root, usually around the roots of other plants. The stem eventually turns white and produces purple spores. This seems to be how it spreads. There is another type of stem that doesn't fruit but turns into a long spiky runner which eventually dries up, turns white and litters the garden. 

It's proving to be quite relentless, and one garden adjacent to ours (the source) has already been overrun. I've resorted to stomping on it and spraying it with weed killer whenever I see it, but it seems I'm currently fighting a losing battle! 

Here's a photo of the plant in the early stages:


I tried to take a photo of our unfortunate neighbour's garden too - the mystery plant has taken over! 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/horsetail
  • BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
    Yup, Equisetum. It's actually a pretty amazing plant in lots of ways - as @pansyface says it's been around a long time, actually since 350 million years ago. In the Paleozoic, there were Equisetum species reaching 30m tall, so whenever I see it, I remind myself to be thankful that those ones didn't survive... :D
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Keep pulling it up as soon as you see it. Don't let the fruiting bodies form.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    The leaves are covered in a thick coating which means it will not respond to weed killer. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • rookedanielle-G11MzQirookedanielle-G11MzQi Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone! I should have guessed it was marestail... don't think I'll ever eradicate it fully unless the adjacent gardens get it under control. But I'll persevere and pull it up whenever I see it - I've been treating the severed stems with weedkiller and that seems to be effective. Have also ordered some lime to raise the PH in the soil. Fingers crossed!! 
  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496
    You can get rid if you work very hard but it will take a few years!
    Dig dig dig and pull it out, don't stop keep going. As time passes it will get less and less. You can treat it with weed killer but firstly have to break bruise the skin then treat it. Your neighbour will have to do the same if you want to succeed. Give yourself three years. 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    My soil is extremely alkaline (7.5), and I still have it.  I bend it over with my foot and trod on it a bit to bruise the stems, then spray.  That kills it in that location for a minute.  It always pops up elsewhere.  I have far more trouble from bindweed, so I'm not overly fussed with it.. at least it's slower growing.  
    Utah, USA.
  • lizzie02lizzie02 Posts: 10
    https://www.progreen.co.uk/problem/mare-s-horse-tail
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