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Marestail along stream
SarSpud
Posts: 46
Hi, I think we have marestail growing along our stream. Is it mares tail? Do you think we should try to eradicate it so that it doesn't take over? i'm concerned about it spreading but I also try to avoid weed killers and digging along bank of the stream (and in the stream) would be impossible. What do you all think?
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You've got mares' tail. Unfortunately the roots of this plant can go metres into the soil so weed killer is your best option.
i'm pretty sure I read on here about somebody injecting it but that'll take time and dedication. I'll see if I can find the link.
Couldn't find the one I was looking for but I found this. These are the lengths people go to. Type Mares Tail into the search box and have a read.
""In our new house Mares Tail appeared around my wife's precious plants and not just an odd one or two - a veritable forest. Having tried everything over the last 20 years I started from scratch. THIS HAS WORKED!!!!
1) Purchased 1/2 litre of "Kurtail" from Progreen - easy to find on the internet.
2) Waited until all the Mares Tails were healthy and strong - in my case approx 150 were evident. Placed 1ft long section of 2" drainage pipe around each individual frond, and kept each pipe in place with a wire peg made from old fence wire. This took approx. 1 day.
3) Using recommended dose of Kurtail I sprayed into each pipe - a short 1 second burst. The use of the pipe protected the surrounding healthy plants. I was advised that maybe 3 applications would be required. FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY ADVICE RE CLOTHING ETC.
4) I left the pipes in place for 4 weeks - each week applying a couple of doses.
Results:-
Initially all seemed well with no evidence of the dreaded culprit.
The following year approx 20 fronds appeared - I repeated the above treatment.
This Year:- COMPLETELY CLEAR.
PS:- This treatment has worked in a garden that has been ruined by Mares Tail over a 20 year period. The work involved is considerable - but totalling approx 2 days - in the scheme of things a fantastic result, especially as it has been in a cultivated garden where the risk of collateral damage is very high.""
Yup mares tail. I have a few bits here. To use wedkillwr you have to bruise it (I only have a few bits so stand on them) then spray. Friad its a case on keeping it at bay
The site which sells Kurtail says you don't need to bruise the stems first.
My concern with any weedkiller adjacent to a watercourse would be over spray. Waterlife can be extremely sensitive to the chemicals. I would check with the supplier / manufacturer of any weedkiller before using it on the site shown.
My concern as well KT53. Hence the enclosed tube around the plant or injecting. Either way it's a mammoth task. I'm afraid there is no easy way.
Thanks, I was really hoping you'd all say it was some interesting marsh growing plant and not marestail.
I assume composting any of it off the top would be a bad idea?
The watercourse contains tiny shrimpy things that feed the British freshwater crayfish in the river downstream so I definitely need something that doesnt affect aquatic life. How about a glysophate type gel that I can paint on the stems?
I need to do something as it's definitely worse than last year
I use glosphate. Bruise first and you might need to reapply. Good luck. Else keep pickinginh it off.
If you see the fruiting spore stalks dippse carefully, rhye look like brown twig spikes at moment. Bag them before snapping off
How much does it matter? It is a wild plant and it seems to be growing in a natural looking environment. If it gets a bit much for some of the other plants pull off the stems. Confine it to the stream banks, a bit further away and you will be able to pulll or spray it if you think fit.
I actuallly have mare's tail in my garden, it is growing in a boggy area with other wild plants. It thas been there for thirty years or more and most years I am barely aware of it. I remember one year when I enjoyed the Impressionistic effect it gave, growing in front of the reedmace, but this year I pullled off maybe 3 stems that had made it to the top of the dam and feeble things they were too. For me the reed mace, the sedges and iris pseudacorus are far more of a problem. I say all this just for balance, as I know other people have other views
I am with Buttercup on this one, for several reasons: 1) strong chemicals and water courses are very difficult to handle, 2) your pictures are very pretty and it doesn't seem to be harming anything, 3)if it does spread, it will probably do so slowly and you can just pull out the individual shoots. I do in my garden, and 4) if it gets too high you could just strim the lot from time to time and keep it civilised.