I thought I would update you on my success on the eradication of Maretails /Horsetail. I have had a huge problem with Marestail if you read my original posts under my GW name "dizzylizzy" back in 2014, I tried the Kurtail for several years running which only ever burnt the tops off, aswell as the organic method of adding manure, growing marigolds and italian ryegrass but nothing even touched the sides. In fact, every year they grew back thicker.
So as this is a walled bed I decided I would turn it into a large compost heap and try and kill them that way. So I trampled them the stems, then I sprayed the compost accelerator (Please note: Ammonium Sulphamate- this is banned in the EU as a weedkiller but can be used as a compost accelerator) (1 kg mixed with 5 litres of water + squirt of washing-up liquid) onto my large walled bed in 2016 and as yet, have not had even one of the marestails for the 2nd year running. Usually by now I would have seen the periscope spores appearing followed by a mass of the green brush-like spikes.
Last year I still found the mass of brown boot lace roots which when snapped in half still made a crisp snap and were still green inside so was expecting them to appear, but no not one. I am still keeping an eye for them this year, as some of the roots are still there and are still slightly green inside- fingers crossed they wont make an appearance. Once I am certain the maretails are dead I will use the lovely soil mix around the garden- but for now it will be in quarantine and used as a compost heap for old potting compost, teabags and finely chopped plant material. Hopefully next year I will be able to turn it back into a very fertile walled flower bed!
The usual annual weeds and grasses are still growing happily, the few bulbs I had in there have multiplied lots this year and the bed is full of worms as before.
I had one allotment and then took on another which was covered with mare's tails so nobody else wanted it. The first year I dug it thoroughly and took out all the root I could find (up to a fork depth) then all that summer I went over the plot once a week pulling any mare's tails that had poked their noses up. I only planted annual veg that year so I could dig it again completely the next winter. The following summer I pulled all heads again weekly. By the following tear (third year) I found very little when I dug and last summer in the fourth year I was finding only half a dozen to pull each week. The important thing is to keep on top of it, if you stop allowing it to grow above ground you weaken the plant and it eventually gives up! Keep on it,,,, you will win!
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I thought I would update you on my success on the eradication of Maretails /Horsetail. I have had a huge problem with Marestail if you read my original posts under my GW name "dizzylizzy" back in 2014, I tried the Kurtail for several years running which only ever burnt the tops off, aswell as the organic method of adding manure, growing marigolds and italian ryegrass but nothing even touched the sides. In fact, every year they grew back thicker.
So as this is a walled bed I decided I would turn it into a large compost heap and try and kill them that way. So I trampled them the stems, then I sprayed the compost accelerator (Please note: Ammonium Sulphamate- this is banned in the EU as a weedkiller but can be used as a compost accelerator) (1 kg mixed with 5 litres of water + squirt of washing-up liquid) onto my large walled bed in 2016 and as yet, have not had even one of the marestails for the 2nd year running. Usually by now I would have seen the periscope spores appearing followed by a mass of the green brush-like spikes.
Last year I still found the mass of brown boot lace roots which when snapped in half still made a crisp snap and were still green inside so was expecting them to appear, but no not one. I am still keeping an eye for them this year, as some of the roots are still there and are still slightly green inside- fingers crossed they wont make an appearance. Once I am certain the maretails are dead I will use the lovely soil mix around the garden- but for now it will be in quarantine and used as a compost heap for old potting compost, teabags and finely chopped plant material. Hopefully next year I will be able to turn it back into a very fertile walled flower bed!
The usual annual weeds and grasses are still growing happily, the few bulbs I had in there have multiplied lots this year and the bed is full of worms as before.
I will add a before and after Photo shortly.
Looks like a baby Christmas tree to me. Do you have some pines near by?
The first year I dug it thoroughly and took out all the root I could find (up to a fork depth) then all that summer I went over the plot once a week pulling any mare's tails that had poked their noses up. I only planted annual veg that year so I could dig it again completely the next winter. The following summer I pulled all heads again weekly. By the following tear (third year) I found very little when I dug and last summer in the fourth year I was finding only half a dozen to pull each week.
The important thing is to keep on top of it, if you stop allowing it to grow above ground you weaken the plant and it eventually gives up!
Keep on it,,,, you will win!