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Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

Comment from Sue Kimber
5929 3
I have a natural clay pond and mistakenly put this plant in it two years ago. It isn't in baskets but rooted directly into the clay and would completely fill the pond if I didn't keep getting in there and pulling it out. But pulling it only gets the stems and hardly ever the roots, so it just keeps coming back. Has anyone else had a problem with this plant?
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Posted: Saturday 14th of August 2010 01:57 PM

  • Re: Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

    Valerie Munro
    Hi Sue

    This plant has a lot going for it, which is why is has survived for many many years. Its leaves are quite tough and waxy which makes using a product containing glyphosate quite difficult. However, if you perservere, you will win but it will take many applications, and you do have to be extremely careful. It works by being taken into the heart of the plant, through its leaves, right down to the roots where it acts as a food blocker, and the plant starves to death

    You have to take great care when using this product as it cannot tell the difference between your green (horror) marestails and the green of another precious plant.

    However, you have not said what else is in the pond that might make using this product difficult. Rather than using a spray formulation, you could buy it as a paint-on get so that you can target the plant and not the surrounding areas.

    You can help the process along a little by crushing the leaves before you apply the paint. This will assist the product penetrate more efficiently.

    Another route would be to wait until the spring when the new shoots have appeared, and cut off individual stems a few inches below the water surface (but not to the bottom). This is another way of starving the plant.

    I hope that this helps
    Auntie Planty
    www.auntieplanty.co.uk




    Replied: Sunday 15th of August 2010 06:13 PM

  • Re: Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

    Shoot User
    Hi Sue, I have the dreaded relation of Mare's Tail, Horsetail growing in my garden. My attempts at continually digging out roots seem to help in the short term but it always comes back. I have discovered a product that claims it will kill these weeds. I haven't used it yet but will buy in spring and try it. Check this site http://www.progreen.co.uk/index.php?c=55&p=156&gclid=CIrg4vjc9J8CFc9i4wodTg2gXQ .It is called Kibosh and I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has used it. Hope it works for you Sue, if you decide to use it. Geof
    Replied: Friday 22nd of October 2010 10:00 AM

  • Re: Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

    Worzel
    The safest, and easiest way to destroy this weed, is to cover it with Black Plastic Sheeting.
    The weed is very light sensitive, due to its small leaf area, so cutting of its light works well.
    You'll need to keep it covered until the root system dies, and any new plants have sprouted, and died.
    Avoid herbicides like glyphosate, they are potentially very dangerous, I got sprayed accidentally, 20 years ago, and am still suffering the ill effects, and will do for the rest of my life!
    Replied: Sunday 29th of May 2022 09:07 PM
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