Thread: Mares Tail
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Old 30-05-2012, 02:46 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Baz[_4_] Baz[_4_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Feb 2012
Posts: 265
Default Mares Tail

Jake wrote in
:

On Wed, 30 May 2012 11:24:48 GMT, Baz wrote:

Now the garden has dried out, and I mean dried(huge cracks on top) I
have had a lawn maintenence firm in to feed and weed the 2 lawns.

He pointed out that in my veg patch there is one area with Mares Tail
and I have not seen that before in my garden. It is right in the
middle of my newly planted runner beans. What to do? Dig them out and
resow the beans?

On the lawns there is Speedwell, again have never seen before but the
lawn weedkiller should eliminate it? I am told it is very difficult to
get shut of.

Anyway, I thought that I would ask here before taking drastic action
regarding Mares Tail.

Thanks.
Baz


Mares tail roots go deep and you're unlikely to get the whole plant
out by digging. The slightest bit of plant will regrow. My "trick" has
been to buy a syringe or two from the local chemist and fill with
glyphosate solution. Simply cut off the mares tail shoot a couple of
inches above ground and inject the solution into the cut end. Repeat
every 4-5 days for 2-3 weeks or until the shoot browns and dies. It
helps to stick a plant label in the ground next to the shoot so you
can find it.

Whilst I still have the stuff appearing here and there (in a new-build
property it usually starts to appear after about 10 years), it has
never yet returned in an area I've treated in this way. Neighbours
who've tried the same approach also report success.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.


Can a person just go into a chemist and buy a syringe? I will do it but
it seems to me that it is wrong. I could be a drug user for all they
know.

Baz