[chickpeacurry]

What is the most effective way to kill this stuff.  Is there any chemical which works.  I seem to be getting different advice.  Tried digging it out but seems to be getting worse thanks

[AnneB]

The only thing that really works is digging and more digging.   The chemicals don't hack it long term.  There is a recent thread on this if you search the site.

[mumofstig]

as Aunt Sally says...............never let it see a Sunday! Just keep hoeing it off, eventually you weaken it, but you're never totally rid of it 

This thread, and the link given in it - may help.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=108542.msg1220842#msg1220842

[Kate and her Ducks]

I'll say it again, never had a problem with it as ducks love it. They just nibble it off whenever it pops its head above ground and it never has a chance.

[Sparkyrog]

There is no sure fired chemical cure believe me I have tried them all  the hoe is your best answer ,won't eradicate but will control 

[Christine]

It even comes up through cracks in concrete and round the edges.   

[3 allotments]

hi, I have this weed on one of my allotments I tried digging ,spraying ,hoeing, it does control it,but the best way is keep the ground covered over with fabric/carpet,plastic. ive grown through the black membrane  it kept the mares tail down,then remove it . :)darren

[Tom Tom Mad]

There is one spray that is effective on horse tail called Kurtail. This is effective I have used it and it does work. It's not cheap though at £30 a bottle mix your own. I was unsure wether you need a pa6a licence or not they never asked when I bought it from my local horti supplier.

I can vouch it does work though.

Happy tail killing

[PAULW]

Deep root by growing success an organic weedkiller worked very well before the EU interfered and they took out the bit that worked.

[mumofstig]

Kurtail is a professional product and this forum cannot recommend its use................

From Progreen
http://www.progreen.co.uk/Weed-Killers/Total-Weed-Killers/Kibosh-0-5LT/prod_2.html

IMPORTANT NOTICE
There are legal responsibilities covering the storage and use of professional use pesticides featured on this website. These responsibilities are covered by The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) and Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986 (COPR). When placing an order with us, you must confirm that you have read, understand and will comply with all FEPA and COPR regulations

[Sparkyrog]

There is one spray that is effective on horse tail called Kurtail. This is effective I have used it and it does work. It's not cheap though at £30 a bottle mix your own. I was unsure wether you need a pa6a licence or not they never asked when I bought it from my local horti supplier.

I can vouch it does work though.

Happy tail killing

As with many current spray's this is not licensed for home use ! and although I have one "license" I do not recommend it  ! Yes you can buy spray's without a license BUT I really don't recommend it 

[AnneB]

There is one spray that is effective on horse tail called Kurtail. This is effective I have used it and it does work. It's not cheap though at £30 a bottle mix your own. I was unsure wether you need a pa6a licence or not they never asked when I bought it from my local horti supplier.

I can vouch it does work though.

Happy tail killing

As with many current spray's this is not licensed for home use ! and although I have one "license" I do not recommend it  ! Yes you can buy spray's without a license BUT I really don't recommend it 

People on our site have used this product without a licence, and spent a lot of money doing so.   It seemed to work at first, but subsequently grew back.   Whether this was because they used it incorrectly I don't know.   What I do know is that we've had our plot 3 years.   It was riddled with the stuff.  We have dug and dug and sifted all the soil for each raised bed.   We still get the occasional bit coming through, but it now looks weedy and weak and is easily pulled up, but we are mainly horsetail free now.   Our chemical using neighbours continue to struggle with it.  Whatever you do, don't rotovate either.

[allot2learn]

There is one spray that is effective on horse tail called Kurtail. This is effective I have used it and it does work. It's not cheap though at £30 a bottle mix your own. I was unsure wether you need a pa6a licence or not they never asked when I bought it from my local horti supplier.

I can vouch it does work though.

Happy tail killing

As with many current spray's this is not licensed for home use ! and although I have one "license" I do not recommend it  ! Yes you can buy spray's without a license BUT I really don't recommend it 

Not wishing to descend this thread into an argument about this product, but............ we held our autumn meeting last sunday and our members asked us to purchase a weedkiller for horsetail/marestail. We voted to purchase kurtail on the advice of two of our members. One of them is a self employed gardener with all the training and certificates to use the product. The other member is a full time groundsman with a a large golf club also with all the training and qualifications in weed surpression.

The advice that I have been given is that you do not need the certificates to use the product on your own land/garden/allotment plot. You only need it to treat others gardens on a trading basis.  ie, a customer.

I have used a product called rosate 36 which is available on a well known auction site. Using two applications 10 days apart, it does work and is a sytemic weed killer. After one season my plot is about 95% free of horsetail (Marestail is an aquatic member of the same family).
I think it is up to the individual to decide, but unless you get down to the roots of this plant, and they go down 2metres, you are going to get recurring problems with it.

[mumofstig]

The advice that I have been given is that you do not need the certificates to use the product on your own land/garden/allotment plot.

It is illegal to sell it and then use it without a licence.

5.   No person shall sell, supply or otherwise market to the end-user a pesticide approved for agricultural use unless that person

(a)   has obtained a certificate of competence recognised by the Ministers, or

(b)   sells or supplies that pesticide under the direct supervision of a person who holds such a certificate.

6.   (1)   In paragraphs 4 and 5 above, "pesticide approved for agricultural use" means a pesticide (other than a pesticide with methyl bromide or chloropicrin as one of its active ingredients) approved for one or more of the following uses:-

(a)   agriculture and horticulture (including amenity horticulture);

(b)   forestry;

(c)   in or near water other than for amateur, public hygiene or anti-fouling uses;

(d)   industrial herbicides, including weedkillers for use on land not intended for the production of any crop.

from CONSENTS GIVEN UNDER THE CONTROL OF PESTICIDES REGULATIONS 1986 ( found by clicking the links on the Progreen site I linked above)

[mumofstig]

As I have already pointed out - this forum cannot recommend the use of professional products.
If they continue being discussed, I will have to lock the thread.