[Aunt Sally]

There is a lot of truth in these old saying.

[Eightball]

Well i'm not going to go the chemical route. I'm thinking of slowly trying to dig out as much root as I can, going a section at a time and trying to get as much done as I can by mid/late september and then plant a winter green manure mix of rye grass, winter tares and maybe field beans as well. Hopefully when I dig in all that organic matter in spring next year the soil will be a bit better.

Going to be putting all the weeds into buckets of water and leaving to stew for a couple of months. Can I use the liquid as a feed? I guess it would be high in silica? anyone know how silicon benefits plants?

[Eightball]

hmmm just read horsetail tea is "an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and blackspot.
This is believed to be due to the horsetail tea enhancing plants’ light absorbing capabilities". Might try some next year if my squashes get it again. I'm sure i will have a good supply of horsetail still

[Aunt Sally]

It is illegal to use it as a fungicide as all fungicides have to be registered with the EU.  You can use it as a feed though 

[Armleywhite]

This is our third year on the allotment.   When we arrived it seemed to be the centre of the horsetail universe.   We had to dig all our soil out and sieve the lot to remove broken glass etc but also the horsetail.  It was painstaking and back breaking work but we now only have the odd tail sprouting.   We are still doing the same at the top of the plot but on the home straight now. 

I don't think there are any shortcuts.   

Some people on our site have used the product which isn't being named, but it isn't being applied professionally.  Having seen the short term effect I wouldn't let it anywhere near my plot.   Not seen the long term outcome yet.

This is my prefered route for any weeds.  I wouldn't touch or allow Glysophates anywhere near my plot.

[Yorkie]

As you always say, Armleywhite.

Each to his/her own.