Mare's Tail and Bindweed Horror

[Muncamoo]

I have an allotment that is being over run with both bindweed and mare's tail. In the past I have tried to dig them out but the problem seems to get worse every year. I am now at the point of using any chemical method I can (previously I have avoided weed killers). Any help or advice would be most welcome

[Martin H]

"Never let it see a Sunday".

If you're going to avoid chemicals you need to stay on top of it. Dig out where it doesn't disturb the crop, otherwise take all the foliage off every week.

There's no easy way. Glyphosate will attack both bindweed and horsetail, although expect it to require multiple applications. It needs to be done when the weeds are growing strongly so you could have a problem growing any crops for half a season.

Personally I would stick with plan A, never let it see a Sunday until it gives up.

[Jay-ell]

I'd second Martins advice.

Dig it out when the space is free of crops or pull out the stems and as much of the root when growing in the middle of crops.
If you do end up down the weedkiller route train the bindweed up canes and break the thick skin on the horsetail for the weedkiller to take. You can use the gelstick or carefully paint it on with a brush

[lottie dolly]

We have lots of them and more variety too,horse tail is a bother when it comes to small things like carrots,radish ext,weed killer does not work,it still comes back next year,even deep digging for roots will not stop it,another plot holder toled me,if you strim it to leave the stems,then apply the killer it will work,as it goes down to the roots,lots of peeps have commented on the horse tail,but it still lives on,all you can do is hoe,hoe hoe,it will weaken it,the bind weed as been said,but do be carefull if you spray the cane foliage,as overspray will kill your other crops to,thats another reason for raised beds,so much easier to to clear 1 bed at a time,and feel like you have actually weeded some ground,

[Jay-ell]

I wouldn't spray anything if it's near crops. I'd let the bindweed grow up th cane and then either us the get or unwrap it lay it on th ground the paint it with weed killer. You could put on a rubber glove, dip your hand in weed killer then run it up the stem and leaves.

[mothhawk]

I read somewhere recently that some species of tagetes will kill off bindweed. Don't know about the horsetail though.
Let me just skim through my history....

Yes, here it is
https://wellywoman.wordpress.com/201...killing-plant/

tagetes minuta

[Jay-ell]

Mexican Marigolds - tagetes minuta. Minuta because of the flowers. The plants are supposed to grow tall.

I have a couple of plants growing next to my compost bin to see how they do. May work them into rotation somehow if they work. The leaves have a citrus type flavour.

[Knight of Albion]

I would stick with removing them by hand. Horsetail is so deep rooted, you'd have to saturate the ground with weed killer.
You're going to be using that land to grow crops to eat remember...

Stick with it. you'll get the upper hand.

[rosiepumpkin]

It doesn't kill horsetail anyway. It's endemic on the top part of the allotment site I'm on and nothing but nothing has killed it (glychosate, digging 6 foot down and sieving the soil). It came back the next year like no-one had bothered.

Bind weed, that's easy. Keep pulling it out when it's a baby and over a few years you'll get on top of it. I train it over my strawberries grown in an old cold frame and it keeps the birds off.

[Mark Lottie]

Dont know about mares tail but there is a school of thought with bindweed that breaking roots off releases a hormone that encourages growth from even the smallest sliver. I have seen first hand beds that have been completely weeded still spring up strong growth when Spring kicks in.

I've seen beds covered with tarp and paper and hay grow massive long networks of bindweed under the cover during Winter/Spring.

Ive seen glyphosate and stronger stuff sprayed by the council on plots full of bindweed and mares tail for it to come back with a vengeance within 6 months.

The solution I've heard is not to dig but pull off top growth meticulously and after 3 years it should be pretty clear of bindweed. I'm going to adopt this method from next year on heavily mulched beds

[clod]

horsetail and drainage

Hi, I've just joined the forum, but have loved gardening for a long time.

I don't have horsetail (tho I do have all the others!) but have been told the best way to deter it is to improve the drainage in that part of your plot.

This is a bit of work - incorporating grit into the top and sub-soil. If you can borrow a soil auger, making lots of deep holes and filling them with gravel up to the level of the sub-soil is very effective.

Otherwise it is keep hoeing and live with it.

Oh, it is useful for cleaning pewter!

Good luck!

[cheapskate chaz]

guess you better buy pewter pots to get an greater incentive,lol, as for mares tail..one of lifes greatest survivers, Romans use to eat it!! and boiled, makes a waxey substance to spray on your plants..to keep certain bugs off, can`t remember which.
My friend has tons of MT`s at his nursery, and even with a very strong weed killer still has them! I`ve been told the roots can go as deep as 3 meters down,but not all gloom,they don`t grow very high so are easy to cut,just make sure you collect it all up, and burn them...they`re witches you know..