On Sat, 09 Sep 2006 11:19:30 +0200, Martin wrote:

On Sat, 09 Sep 2006 06:50:11 GMT, Pam Moore
wrote:

On Fri, 8 Sep 2006 20:16:38 +0100, K wrote:

Brian writes

Mare's tail should be no problem as it's a flowering plant.
However Horse tail is very different.

So what do you mean by Mare's tail? I always thought mare's tail
referred to the Equisetums that are grown ornamentally, which are no
more a flowering plant than are the horsetails. But Fitter uses
marestail for Hippurus vulgaris, which is a flowering plant

I am not very well informed on these. I thought they were the same
thing! This is certainly not a flowering plant, just bright green and
feathery and very invasive.
I think this must be it...
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/horsetail.htm
I knew it was almost impossible to get rid of but wondered if anyone
had any experience of it and any advice to give.

The advice on how to get rid of it is on the site you quoted.

"Eradicating this weed is not easy and will take much persistence,
continual removal will work - eventually! Regular close mowing will
exhaust the rhizomes, but the patch must be isolated as growth will
re-emerge from an adjoining area. Check early in the year for the
cone-bearing shoots to stop the production of spores and remove any of
the branched shoots later. Sowing turnips in the area has been shown
to inhibit the growth of shoots, probably due to an inhibiting
substance produced by the turnip; this would need to be done for a few
seasons to exhaust the rhizomes. Small pieces of the rhizome will
regrow, as seen in the lower, right picture where a 3cm segment has
produced a stem. So cultivation of the area will compound the problem
- it may be possible to follow most of the rhizome by careful use of a
fork to tease them up, but they are very brittle and snap easily.
Shoots are also produced from small nodules about 0.5cm in diameter,
which are solid white flesh inside covered in a dark skin as in the
lower, left picture. These have probably arisen on the rhizomes and
broken away when disturbed.

It is resistant to most weedkillers, but Glyphosate may have some
success after repeated treatment. Dichlobenil and Amitrole are
residual agents, and will prevent regrowth for a period in suitable
areas. Crush the stems first by trampling them to increase the
penetration as they have a waxy surface. Some success has been
reported using a selective weedkiller; a spray with Verdone Extra
causes the topgrowth to die within a few days, but I am waiting to see
if regrowth occurs.
That was late summer last year and so far in late April the hedge
bottom treated has not sprouted any Horsetail yet."

Martin, thank you for that useful info. I only found the page I
quoted after Kay pointed out that I was wrongly calling it Mare's
tail.
I will pass the info on to my friends, but I fear they have bought
more than they bargained for!
I don't think they are all that fond of turnips! LOL
Thanks to all
Pam

Pam in Bristol