On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 14:34:11 GMT, Tim Challenger
"timothy(dot)challenger(at)apk(dot)at" wrote:


Horsetails. The bane of many a gardener.

Three solutions:
1) Keep pulling them up, as soon as you can - try and get them while
they're small, try your best to get as much of th eunderground stem/root as
you can -it's pretty tough and any little bit left will grow a new plant.
if possible - dig over the patch and carefully remove as much root as you
can. They'll gradually weaken and die out -but very gradually.

2) If you want to use chemicals, some people use Roundup or similar, but
the horsetails are pretty tough and the chemical doesn't get absorbed
easily. This can be improved by damaging the outer tissue a little by, say
rubbing them roughly with a gloved hand, then spraying. Others will surely
have better tips.

3) Move home.

4] Plant Ground Elder, and see which one wins
THEN move home!

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk