Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Jeff M on May 22, 2019, 11:23
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Hi There,
I'm about to erect a polytunnel..20ft x 12ft..on ground that's prone to mares tail . Should I work hard to clear the ground on mare's tail first, or.. lay my tunnel on heavy membrane and then build raised beds inside with good clean soil ? Cheers, J
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I have/ had a similar problem. I just accepted that I'll never be rid of the dreaded stuff and just hoe it off from the polytunnel beds as soon as it appears. I only ever see the odd bit popping up now.
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Mares tail can come through tarmac so membrane won’t stop it. My plot was riddled by it & I got very uptight abought it, I already knew the saying never let it see a Sunday. But on researching more I read to let it grow to 7-10cms then trowel & gently pull it up. The theory is it will have expanded lots of energy into growing & by pulling up gently you get more root & over time you weaken it as it can’t photosynthesise without light. This approach has really worked for me & I now just see less every year, more this time of year but less as the year progresses.
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Mares tail can come through tarmac so membrane won’t stop it. My plot was riddled by it & I got very uptight abought it, I already knew the saying never let it see a Sunday. But on researching more I read to let it grow to 7-10cms then trowel & gently pull it up. The theory is it will have expanded lots of energy into growing & by pulling up gently you get more root & over time you weaken it as it can’t photosynthesise without light. This approach has really worked for me & I now just see less every year, more this time of year but less as the year progresses.
Much more eloquently put than I ;)
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😊
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Thanks All,
Sounds like good advice from all...Looks like I keep decapitating it, and hope it runs out of steam !!
Cheers,
J