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Annoying Weed

manicgardenermanicgardener Posts: 2
in Problem solving

Inherited a new garden last year with lots of paved areas. Around the edges and inbetween the paving is a weed. They're single stems shoots, but no leaves. What would usually be a leaf, is actually the same as the stem, just small shoots really.

When you pull it out it just snaps and rarely below the soil level.  It's now starting to come up in the middle of the soil, not just around the edges.

If left, they've grown to over a foot tall.  I've tried roundup, but that's not working. Any ideas?  I've tried the week identification sites but they're all showing small leafy weeds. Nothing tall and spindly.

Posts

  • kleipieperkleipieper Posts: 563

    Could it be horse tail?

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=257

     

  • Gill DGill D Posts: 6

    Sorry but it does sound like mares tail, dreadful stuff.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Probably why the garden's paved image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    You need to crush it first and then apply weedkiller.   Otherwise it doesn't absorb it.   In the border, just keep pulling it up when you see it and then bin or burn it.  Do not put the bits on the compost heap or waste ground as they will grow again.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • manicgardenermanicgardener Posts: 2

    Thank you very much for your comment.  Just to make sure we're all talking about the same thing, I've taken a picture.

    image

     

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,883

    That is definitely mare's tail. I've tried every way to get rid of it (for 30 odd years) and it still keeps coming up. Just keep pulling it off as you see it. Its roots can go down a few metres into the soil and any tiny bit broken off will root. The only thing I haven't tried is a flamethrower!

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • wobbly bob2wobbly bob2 Posts: 2

    a friend used to work in clay digging pits and he says they were still digging roots of mares tail out 20 feet down. good luck getting rid of it i found it impossible and just keep hoeing it off.

  • LesleyTLesleyT Posts: 18

    Horsetail (mares tail)

    It's best to read the following link. If the link does not work, copy and paste it into your browser.

    Good luck; mine comes from a neighbour who doesn't care about other peoples gardens.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=257

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