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Horse Tail weed

How do you eradicate Horsetail from a new garden with top soil added already

Posts

  • star gaze lilystar gaze lily Posts: 17,621

    Hi joem, there is a thread on horsetail weed I'll bump it up for you.image

  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    With great difficulty, much persistence and a good fork.

  • PrivetPrivet Posts: 93

    Horsetail or Mare's Tail hates alkaline soil so adding some lime to the soil is a good idea (no good if it's where you are growing rhododendrons or azaleas). Also, if your plot is well cultivated and planted, try and dig up what you can and then just chop the tops off as they re-appear. I think we have to bear in mind that Mare's Tail is a prehistoric plant. If it's survived this long, what chance do we have of totally eradicating it!  

  • weedmeweedme Posts: 3

    After 2 years trying to get rid of horse-tail from my block paving, I think I'v cracked it. dig out as much as possible with a slim bladed tool, then spray hole with "oven cleaner" amazing results within 24hrs

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,109

    I'd steer clear of using anything like that. There will be damage to the surrounding soil as it leaches into it, which in turn destroys all the other beneficial organisms. image

    Bruising the stems and applying a safer, proprietary weedkiller designed for the purpose, will do the job. After that, vigilance and repeat applications will help to keep it at bay. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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