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Tares take over nice folks garden!

richardbillingsrichardbillings Posts: 5
in Problem solving

Would some kind souls out there tell me what these tares are and how on earth I can get rid of them. The only way I can see is save what I can for replanting and dig the whole lot up and start from scratch  

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This isn't my garden and am being paid to do this as economically as possible! This is my first post so hi to everyone here ????

Posts

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    Mares / Horses tail. Not good news I'm afraid.

  • richardbillingsrichardbillings Posts: 5

    Thanks Dave. Great response if not somewhat alarming! I'm not a gardener as you can guess although I won't to learn. I take it i'll have to dig everything up and start from scratch. What would you do?

  • Beaus MumBeaus Mum Posts: 3,554

    Hi Richard and welcome image just dig each one out, shouldn't be too hard image only the mares tail not everything else image

  • richardbillingsrichardbillings Posts: 5

    Hi Beaus Mum and thanks for your reply. The soil is a little clayeye and the beds are full of bulbs, shrubs flower herbaceous plants. The garden is large and there are hundreds and they break leaving the root. This is someone else's time and money remember!!

    Last edited: 06 June 2017 10:35:26

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    Afraid it's not just a case of digging them out ..... the roots of Marestail go down for many many feet and they are resistant to most treatments.  

    This earlier thread (there are many others too) may help  http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/mares-tail/997122.html 

    Good luck.  


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





  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    richardbillings says:

    Thanks Dave. Great response if not somewhat alarming! I'm not a gardener as you can guess although I won't to learn. I take it i'll have to dig everything up and start from scratch. What would you do?

    See original post

    They are a sod to say the least Richard. I had them at my old house. You have to be really careful when digging them out as any broken root will re-grow so you can end up multiplying the problem! The roots also go deep. You can't suppress them with any kind of membrane either. This stuff grows through concrete. Literally.

    If you have a search on here you will find plenty of discussion. Here's a thread for starters:

    http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/mares-tail/86362.html

    I had some success by firstly 'bruising' the stems then applying a stump killer product mixed with a small amount of fairy liquid (to help it stay in contact for longer) then painted on with a brush. 

    Sorry to sound negative but they really are a challenge. Hopefully someone will come along and give some more positive insight! image

    Welcome to the forum by the way. 

  • richardbillingsrichardbillings Posts: 5

    Thanks Dovefromabove this is a great help. Such a shame as the garden had been cared for by two women with much ardour image

  • richardbillingsrichardbillings Posts: 5

    Thanks Dave I now know where i stand so shall keep 'digging' to find out as much as posbile and then come up with a solution which will probably be drastic. You've all been a great help. Many thanks.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    There is a theory that they grow less strongly in limy soil ............ we don't have it in this area (as far as I'm aware) and we have very chalky soil.  

    Once you make a bit of headway it might be an idea to lime the soil ... it will of course preclude growing ericaceous plants, but if it was me I'd probably feel that was a small sacrifice to pay.  


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





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