The seeding (spore release) process takes place in the early spring. Often, only serious infestations in ideal conditions produce the spore-bearing caps which look very different to the green stems that open up; spore caps don't. In many gardens, allotments etc, sporing doesn't occur unless the conditions are right. Hopefully for you, these weren't present and you just have the rhizomes to contend with
On the downside, the rhizomes/roots can grow through practically anything in their way, including potatoes. Just make sure when you come to harvest time, there aren't any black root remnants growing in or through your spuds and you'll be fine.
I have close to an acre that's pretty well infested with the stuff, I keep it down in the vegetable garden by just hoeing off the top, I find a year of that kills it. But black plastic (not weed membrain) the silage type does kill it but it takes a couple of years and it needs to extend a couple of meters in all directions or the roots just grow under.
Basicaly I've just learned to live with it, mowing also seems to get rid of it, or make it look like grass anyway.
My next door neighbour brought some plants 11 years ago which contained contaminated soil and I have worked tirelessly since then to try to eradicate it as it is in a shared garden between our driveways. He and his wife would rather sit and sunbathe than try to get rid of this, Their whole garden is covered with it. I have today discovered some in another part of my garden and am at my wits end.
Last year I tried diluted thin bleach and salt and this worked on the driveway but I believe you are not supposed to use this on a garden. Does anyone know why?
Pleas to him to weed kill fall on deaf ears. He is a farmer so has access to very strong weed killers but he says he is too tired after work to do anything about it.
Can anyone suggest a solution to this. I cannot move house.
Just spraying mares tail is no good, this weed has a tough waxy coat so any weed killer will just run off, I suggest that you scuff your foot over it 1st to break it to allow the weed killer to penetrate. You will only be able to keep on top of it and not get rid as the roots can go down up to 2 metres, not unless you have access to a JCB
After years of pulling up mares tail and spraying with different weedkillers for it to appear the year after, I used Kurtail gold and it's killed it. It is brown and brittle after a week and I'm so impressed .
It's a bit expensive but it goes a long way and I really recommend it.
Posts
If this plant could be found to be a wonder food or a cure for some horrible illness we would all be celebrating - dream on.
The seeding (spore release) process takes place in the early spring. Often, only serious infestations in ideal conditions produce the spore-bearing caps which look very different to the green stems that open up; spore caps don't. In many gardens, allotments etc, sporing doesn't occur unless the conditions are right. Hopefully for you, these weren't present and you just have the rhizomes to contend with
On the downside, the rhizomes/roots can grow through practically anything in their way, including potatoes. Just make sure when you come to harvest time, there aren't any black root remnants growing in or through your spuds and you'll be fine.
Dabbler,
Brassicas are ok with lime in fact it is often used to deter club root disease.
I have close to an acre that's pretty well infested with the stuff, I keep it down in the vegetable garden by just hoeing off the top, I find a year of that kills it. But black plastic (not weed membrain) the silage type does kill it but it takes a couple of years and it needs to extend a couple of meters in all directions or the roots just grow under.
Basicaly I've just learned to live with it, mowing also seems to get rid of it, or make it look like grass anyway.
My next door neighbour brought some plants 11 years ago which contained contaminated soil and I have worked tirelessly since then to try to eradicate it as it is in a shared garden between our driveways. He and his wife would rather sit and sunbathe than try to get rid of this, Their whole garden is covered with it. I have today discovered some in another part of my garden and am at my wits end.
Last year I tried diluted thin bleach and salt and this worked on the driveway but I believe you are not supposed to use this on a garden. Does anyone know why?
Pleas to him to weed kill fall on deaf ears. He is a farmer so has access to very strong weed killers but he says he is too tired after work to do anything about it.
Can anyone suggest a solution to this. I cannot move house.
Just spraying mares tail is no good, this weed has a tough waxy coat so any weed killer will just run off, I suggest that you scuff your foot over it 1st to break it to allow the weed killer to penetrate. You will only be able to keep on top of it and not get rid as the roots can go down up to 2 metres, not unless you have access to a JCB
After years of pulling up mares tail and spraying with different weedkillers for it to appear the year after, I used Kurtail gold and it's killed it. It is brown and brittle after a week and I'm so impressed .
It's a bit expensive but it goes a long way and I really recommend it.
I had never heard or seen the dreaded thing until I got in 10 tonnes of 'topsoil' delivered this year, beds are full of the damned stuff.
Kurtail Gold is a professional weedkiller. You should have a licence to use it.