[Cavolo Nero]

Ive been clearing my new plot this week - nearly there! Theres loads of grass but near the western fence each forkful brings up a load of long thick straggly roots like thick spaghetti - Is this the dreaded mares tail? If so what could I do to combat it in future?

[sunshineband]

Pull out every scrpa of root you see... always 

Every year 

and then it'll be controllable

[zazen999]

If it's spaghetti like then it might well be couch grass. Mare's tail snaps off and isn't like spaghetti at all.

[Yorkie]

If it's like piano wire then, as Zazen999 says, it will be couch grass.

If it's fatter and breaks easily, it can be marestail, ground elder or bindweed.  My money would be on either of the first two at this time of year.

[sunshineband]

You guys do have a point -- I shoud have thought of that before I posted --- sorry.

I'm still dreamimg of warmer weather 

[Cavolo Nero]

Yep its about 4mm thick and snaps - its just like spaghetti as theres so much of it. Doesnt seem to be connected to anything on the surface though.

[DD.]

If it's brown & bark-like - Mare's tail.

White/cream - bind weed - it likes fences.

[zazen999]

Whatever it is - get it out!!!

We have managed to get all 3 under control [couch, mares, bindweed] by lots of 'following it down and get it out' combined with mulching and hoeing. And some blocking with cardboard and planting through, so that when you dig it over at the end of the season, the roots are weak and easier to get out.

[mumofstig]

I have stopped the advance of mares tail, bindweed and ground elder into my garden (yes my next door neighbour is very generous ) ...........
by digging and removing as much root as possible each winter and hoeing where it does show it's head throught out the year. This gradually weakens it
But it has to be all out war...no slacking....or they all come back

[sunshineband]

But it has to be all out war...no slacking....or they all come back   

Never a truer word said 
 

[Cavolo Nero]

If it's brown & bark-like - Mare's tail.

White/cream - bind weed - it likes fences.

Ah, it must be bindweed as then as the roots are white and within about 18 inches or so from the fence. Im more concerned with that mass of roots leaching the nutrients out of the soil!

[Yorkie]

I agree that bindweed is the most likely, but ground elder looks very similar and the roots are more visible at this time of year.

Whichever one, the advice remains the same, get it out!