[luftmenschen]

Sorry for the thick question but is Mares Tail the same as Horse Tail?

I buy and use Horse Tail - I wanted to plant some and the chap who would mow my lawn said I would regret it forever if I did - is it the same thing?

[JRRD]

Noooooooo.............................Don't do it. 
You'll spend the rest of your time trying to get rid of it again

[Yorkie]

I think you'll find that the two terms are used interchangeably, although botanically there probably are differences.

Kelvin, re glyphosate, it's best to apply it to the leaves rather than the roots of a plant.  This is because it is a systemic herbicide - i.e. it needs to be absorbed into the system of the plant, through the leaves, and then taken down into the roots through the internal system.  Other herbicides work on contact.

[Goosegirl]

Correction - it's Doff Tough Weed killer that has bumped off my mares' tail (so far!) but I am ready with the Roundup in vinegar just in case.

[mooncatsmum]

You could try a variation on Sod's Law-something that is useful is difficult to grow ie. you want to amke a lot of nettle beer-the nettles disappear from your plot so mare's tail? In times gone by handfuls of the plant were used for scouring pots and cleaning surfaces, could this weed be the organic answer to Cillit Bang?

[BostonInbred]

Just a word to check the residual effect if you're planning on using something other than glyphosate, Kelvin - if it's sodium chlorate, it's not licensed for use on land where crops will be grown, and the ground isn't usable for at least 6 months afterwards in any event.

As with most useful chemicals, the EU has withdrawn the licence for Sodium Chlorate last year, so you will struggle to buy it now. Production has now stopped and whats left is whats in shops stockrooms. When thats gone, thats it.

I made sure i got a 25 Kg bag, just in case.

[Aunt Sally]

It will in fact be illegal to use sodium chlorate after 10 May 2010.

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/approvals.asp?id=2623

[Trillium]

Mares tail and horse tail closely resemble each other but aren't the same thing. Mares tail flowers and spreads via seeds and underground runners. Horse tail is related to the fern family so it doesn't flower but does spread by spores as well as underground runners, just like ferms, but worse. Even if you grow some in pots the spores will quickly bless you with ground crops which you'll never get rid of as they spread exponentially - get rid of one root and 2 quickly sprout to take its place. I haven't met anyone who's been able to totally rid their ground of either.

[BostonInbred]

And of course, as we all know, the root tips of Mares Tails actually poke out through the roof of Hell.

[savbo]

Mares tail and horse tail closely resemble each other but aren't the same thing. Mares tail flowers and spreads via seeds and underground runners. Horse tail is related to the fern family so it doesn't flower but does spread by spores as well as underground runners, just like ferms, but worse. Even if you grow some in pots the spores will quickly bless you with ground crops which you'll never get rid of as they spread exponentially - get rid of one root and 2 quickly sprout to take its place. I haven't met anyone who's been able to totally rid their ground of either.

are we getting some confusion over transatlantic names? The problem plant - -Equisetum - is called by botanists horsetail but by many marestail. What botanists call marestail in the UK is an aquatic plant - Hippuris - which is not a problem for anyone! Is there a different plant called marestail in north america?

I'm also intrigued by luftmenschen saying they buy and use horsetail - what for? I suspect this may be yet another plant sharing the name!

M

[savbo]

should have wiki'd before posting -
Conyza canadensis, an annual weed also known as horseweed and Canadian fleabane

M

[Sprouts]

The old boys always used to say to get rid of Mares tail you should never let it see a Sunday.

It will mean a bit of work but as soon as it pokes through hoe it off. Apparently if you keep at it it will die off

[DD.]

If you read earlier in the thread, it's not just the old boys.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=42827.msg504691#msg504691

[mumofstig]

It will in fact be illegal to use sodium chlorate after 10 May 2010.

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/approvals.asp?id=2623

Ooh I had better use mine up as soon as the weather warms up then

[fatbelly]

This is my fourth year on my plot and when I started the plot was riddled with Mares tail.
I hoe it off just below the soil when ever it popd it head up and last year i had very little of it.

Keep hoeing it whenever it pops up and you will win the battle and within there or four years you will have on the war.