Derek Turner wrote:

In a word, glyphosate. And now in in industrial strength. BTW mares-tail
is a semi-aquatic, you are more likely to have horse-tail q.v.. Bob
Flowerdew recommends moving house if you have it.

Hi there. We've lived and worked in Belgium for the last 7 years. Our
own house is in Yorkshire. Our present rental property has a smallish
lawn and an 'l' shaped herbaceous to the back of the lawn and down the
side of the house. Everything seemed tidy for the first month. But
then I spotted the dreaded horsetail!! It 'lived' in the border
alongside the house. I then realised that owner's wife had regularly
"cropped" and also just before we moved in. I hoed the tops off for
the 1st year. Then I'd had enough so I asked if the plants from the
1st 15 yards could be removed, along with the soil. Three men duly
arrived and it was done in a couple of hours.

When the horsetail regrew I sprayed with a double strength SBK
liquid,50 ml/1.5 l. and after 4 weeks repeated the process. I took a
risk and transplanted a few small low-growing shrubs. After another 6
weeks I only found 2 sprigs of horsetail regrown from an original
fifty.

The bottom section, which borders the lawn has large shrubs, so I used
a piece of carboard carton as a shield and sprayed the horsetail in
between these plants.

I'm now keeping fingers crossed for a clean border, in time for a bit
of fresh spring planting! Wish me well :-)

--
Don