Does anyone know how to eliminate this pesky weed?

[hamstersarse]

I had all my borders cleared during the winter and they were beautiful.....but this weed!!!!

I don’t know what it is, but HOW do I deal with it?

I’ve just pulled up loads of it, but I I know it will be back!!

Picture included

Move house

It’s horsetail. You’ll never get rid of it.

Ever?

This is not the news I was hoping for

It is the very devil I'm afraid, it will be a very long battle. Keep ripping it out and it will eventually weaken. Alternatively grass the area and mow it, that does the job eventually.

I have got rid of it (I think). In the autumn you need to spray it with a glyphosate weedkiller eg Roundup. It will draw the stuff down into its roots. Make sure you attack every single stalk.
Don’t try to pull it up - this releases spores and causes it to spread.
Probably worth doing this before glyphosate is banned....

Oh dear...I’ve just pulled loads of it up

The very word...spore...makes me be repulsed by it even more

My lovely borders

If it's only just arrived you could try digging it out but beware the roots can run deep and any little tiny bit left behind will grow so you could make it worse.
Alternatives are weedkiller but even using repeatedly it could last for years or cutting it down to soil level and pulling off any regrowth which may weaken it and reduce spread.

The only way I've ever managed to get rid of really bad weeds is by digging out the whole of the root,pulling it out and you'll be leaving the roots under the ground and it'll grow back easily,dig the root out and try and make sure you get it all out.

It only spores from the ones what look like weird mushrooms. The ones you’ve pulled up won’t release spores.

It’s the worst weed to have. Been around since before the dinosaurs which should give you an idea of its tenacity.

If you have dark hair you can steep some in hot water and use as a rinse,it make your hair nice and whiney.

Shiny!!

We were overrun by it. We got it under control by grassing over as much of the garden as possible and then mowing. I haven't spotted any this year yet

@Hagisonthehill
If you have dark hair you can steep some in hot water and use as a rinse,it make your hair nice and whiney.

The weeds are bad enough but if they make your hair whine too that would be unbearable.

I feel an anger I never knew was possible towards a weed

There are.weedkillers that will kill it, but it has a huge root system. Roundup(glyphosate) is not generally strong enough in the domestically available form. If you look up Kurtail gold you should find its successor. It does work. If not, come back to me and I'll recommend you a.product. I'm a qualified pesticide user working as a.technical advisor to the industry.

It has been around since the time of the dinosaurs. It hasn't had to evolve or change, because it is so successful at resisting all attempts to get rid of it.

Just keep attacking it every time you see any.

It's a little G&T in the sun did that,not winey at all!

Please don’t start using chemicals. They’re killers. Not just plants but insects, bees, birds etc.

If you use weedkiller you need to bruise it first to make it in anyway porous.A vigorous application with a rake is the easiest.
You shouldn't get spores of you don't let it flower but it also spreads via rhizomes.
This is not a happy thread is it OP?

You need to split it before applying glyphosate by painting it on. Then it gets to the roots. Good luck it's awful.

I feel an anger I never knew was possible towards a weed

You've clearly never met my friend convolvulus. I want to murder it and bury it under the patio. Except it would like that.

We've been battling bindweed, DH has dug up as many roots as poss and poured boiled water down the hole - no idea why, I think he must have read it somewhere 🤣

No idea if this will work for horsetail, but I read somewhere that pouring boiling water on weeds will eventually kill them. You need to do it for a few days but It is a case of tipping what's left once you've had your cup of tea or whatever. You could try on a small patch and see if it works?

.. and not just in Fabulously's post above!

It's difficult to control, but not impossible. We had a big outbreak 2 years ago but have it back under control now. The key is killing the "male" part before it spreads the spores (male part is "a" in this pic). I'm not usually a fan of weed killer but found it a must to get rid of this weed. You need to rub the weed killer into the plant for it to be effective as it has a waxy coating. I use weed killer on a gloved hand and rub it on. This is a good website for info
www.allotment-garden.org/gardening-information/weed-control/control-horse-mares-tail-equisetum-arvense/

It can be done! You just have to persevere.

I've got rid of every weed on my property, bindweed, horsetail, all of them. It takes a couple of years but you don't let it get a hold, you go round the garden twice a week and pull up all evidence of it and eventually it will subside even if you have dickhead neighbours letting it run riot the other side of the fence.
Then once it's gone you just need to check once a week. You will never get rid completely but you can keep it all under control easily and it's good exercise all that weeding.