On 2 Mar 2004 09:41:36 GMT, (Keith Dancey) wrote:

In article , Mike writes:

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.


You could try repeated applications of "Pathclear" but I wouldn't hold out
too much hope. Horsetail has a cuticle which does not take up much herbicide,
and it could have a huge root run which is very difficult to kill.

I have lived with the stuff for years:-}

I have tried various glyphosphate type weedkillers over the last
couple of years and although the weeds go brown and die, they seem
undetered and just as many will have appeared again before too long.

Perhaps there is some sort of sheeting/membrane which I could lay down
under the slabs? They old guy next door (who's jungle is to blame for
this problem) has bushes of 'tails sprouting up right through his
tarmac drive so I'm not sure if any membrane would be up to the job!


They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Indeed.


Best of luck:-)


Cheers,

keith



---
Iraq: 5 thousand million pounds, 60 lives, and counting...
The Politicians will now seek to blame the Spooks.

In article , Mike
writes
Perhaps there is some sort of sheeting/membrane which I could lay down
under the slabs? They old guy next door (who's jungle is to blame for
this problem) has bushes of 'tails sprouting up right through his
tarmac drive so I'm not sure if any membrane would be up to the job!

Membrane is no good. Have a friend who had been there, done that, seem
the film, got the teeshirt
1. It finds its way to the edge of the membrane and carries right on
growing
2. As soon as you lift the membrane (I think she left it down 3 years),
the stuff goes right on growing
--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

In article , Mike
writes
Perhaps there is some sort of sheeting/membrane which I could lay down
under the slabs? They old guy next door (who's jungle is to blame for
this problem) has bushes of 'tails sprouting up right through his
tarmac drive so I'm not sure if any membrane would be up to the job!

Membrane is no good. Have a friend who had been there, done that, seem
the film, got the teeshirt
1. It finds its way to the edge of the membrane and carries right on
growing
2. As soon as you lift the membrane (I think she left it down 3 years),
the stuff goes right on growing
--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

"Mike" wrote in message
...
Hi,

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.

They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Thanks for any advice!

Try Sodium Chlorate. But remember that it is a *total* weedkiller.
Chlorate, not chloride

Franz

"Mike" wrote in message
...
Hi,

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.

They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Thanks for any advice!

Try Sodium Chlorate. But remember that it is a *total* weedkiller.
Chlorate, not chloride

Franz

In article , "Franz Heymann" writes:

"Mike" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.

They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Thanks for any advice!

Try Sodium Chlorate. But remember that it is a *total* weedkiller.
Chlorate, not chloride


Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard. It will kill everything, but
the roots of horsetail have been measured to extend 30 metres deep in a
sandy quarry! Ordinarily, I think the root system will be both too deep
and too extensive for sodium chlorate to work completely, and if the
sodium chlorate travels with the water table or runoff water, it could
kill well away from the patio area, unintentionally.


However, it may well be worth considering. Has anyone any experience of
using sodium chlorate against horsetail? It would help if we could get
some "hands-on" feedback... I have never dared use it.



Cheers,


keith



---
Iraq: 5 thousand million pounds, 60 lives, and counting...
The Politicians will now seek to blame the Spooks.

(Keith Dancey) wrote in news:c24kno
:

Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard.

I have never dared use it.

I have seen it used as a firelighter. It burns quite quickly, but I
wouldn't say it was as scary as all that. It stays put, unlike, say,
petrol, and burns out very quickly.

If you have an old shed that has been creosoted, I'd say that's more of a
fire hazard.

Victoria

In article , "Franz Heymann" writes:

"Mike" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.

They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Thanks for any advice!

Try Sodium Chlorate. But remember that it is a *total* weedkiller.
Chlorate, not chloride


Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard. It will kill everything, but
the roots of horsetail have been measured to extend 30 metres deep in a
sandy quarry! Ordinarily, I think the root system will be both too deep
and too extensive for sodium chlorate to work completely, and if the
sodium chlorate travels with the water table or runoff water, it could
kill well away from the patio area, unintentionally.


However, it may well be worth considering. Has anyone any experience of
using sodium chlorate against horsetail? It would help if we could get
some "hands-on" feedback... I have never dared use it.



Cheers,


keith



---
Iraq: 5 thousand million pounds, 60 lives, and counting...
The Politicians will now seek to blame the Spooks.

On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 13:39:20 +0000, Victoria Clare
wrote:

(Keith Dancey) wrote in news:c24kno
:

Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard.

I have never dared use it.

I have seen it used as a firelighter. It burns quite quickly, but I
wouldn't say it was as scary as all that. It stays put, unlike, say,
petrol, and burns out very quickly.

If you have an old shed that has been creosoted, I'd say that's more of a
fire hazard.

If you add a common household substance you can blow away quite large
buildings.
--

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit;
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 13:39:20 +0000, Victoria Clare
wrote:

(Keith Dancey) wrote in news:c24kno
:

Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard.

I have never dared use it.

I have seen it used as a firelighter. It burns quite quickly, but I
wouldn't say it was as scary as all that. It stays put, unlike, say,
petrol, and burns out very quickly.

If you have an old shed that has been creosoted, I'd say that's more of a
fire hazard.

If you add a common household substance you can blow away quite large
buildings.
--

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit;
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

In article , "Franz Heymann" writes:

"Mike" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

We have a rather nasty patch of horsetails which has crept under our
boundary fence from the jungle next-door.

The main problem part is about 3m x 5m where the 'tails sprout from
the gaps inbetween our patio slabs. The gaps are only 1-3mm wide.

This year, I am trying to be better prepared for our annual battle
with these monsters. I was wondering if there is any chemical or
weedkiller that I can pour liberally down these gaps that may hinder
the growth of the 'tails when spring comes around.

They are also in the lawn but keeping the grass short masks them quite
well.

Thanks for any advice!

Try Sodium Chlorate. But remember that it is a *total* weedkiller.
Chlorate, not chloride


Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard. It will kill everything, but
the roots of horsetail have been measured to extend 30 metres deep in a
sandy quarry! Ordinarily, I think the root system will be both too deep
and too extensive for sodium chlorate to work completely, and if the
sodium chlorate travels with the water table or runoff water, it could
kill well away from the patio area, unintentionally.


However, it may well be worth considering. Has anyone any experience of
using sodium chlorate against horsetail? It would help if we could get
some "hands-on" feedback... I have never dared use it.



Cheers,


keith



---
Iraq: 5 thousand million pounds, 60 lives, and counting...
The Politicians will now seek to blame the Spooks.

In article , Keith Dancey
writes
Has anyone any experience of
using sodium chlorate against horsetail? It would help if we could get
some "hands-on" feedback... I have never dared use it.

No, but a few years back someone posted here that he had eradicated his
by continually cutting it back over a period of about 5 years. He was
pretty vicious with it, never letting the foliage see the light of day.

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

"martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 13:39:20 +0000, Victoria Clare
wrote:

(Keith Dancey) wrote in news:c24kno
:

Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard.

I have never dared use it.

I have seen it used as a firelighter. It burns quite quickly, but I
wouldn't say it was as scary as all that. It stays put, unlike, say,
petrol, and burns out very quickly.

If you have an old shed that has been creosoted, I'd say that's more of a
fire hazard.

If you add a common household substance you can blow away quite large
buildings.

Nowadays you can only buy sodium chlorate containing a retardant.
Quite safe, even when mixed with C12 H22 O11.
--
Nick Wagg

In article , Keith Dancey
writes
Has anyone any experience of
using sodium chlorate against horsetail? It would help if we could get
some "hands-on" feedback... I have never dared use it.

No, but a few years back someone posted here that he had eradicated his
by continually cutting it back over a period of about 5 years. He was
pretty vicious with it, never letting the foliage see the light of day.

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

"martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 13:39:20 +0000, Victoria Clare
wrote:

(Keith Dancey) wrote in news:c24kno
:

Beware - Sodium Chlorate is a fire hazard.

I have never dared use it.

I have seen it used as a firelighter. It burns quite quickly, but I
wouldn't say it was as scary as all that. It stays put, unlike, say,
petrol, and burns out very quickly.

If you have an old shed that has been creosoted, I'd say that's more of a
fire hazard.

If you add a common household substance you can blow away quite large
buildings.

Nowadays you can only buy sodium chlorate containing a retardant.
Quite safe, even when mixed with C12 H22 O11.
--
Nick Wagg