Vinegar + Mares/horses Tail

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Last year I used vinegar to kill off the weeds between my slabs, quite successfully, including the Mares Tail (I know it's Horses Tail but I've always called it Mares). So far this year no return of the Mares Tail, some of the other perennial weeds have started. I use the vinegar not as a spray (no use on Mares Tail because of the silica) but wait for dry spell and "water" the plants with vinegar so the roots soak up the vinegar as the plants are thirsty. So a question - has anyone used vinegar in the open ground to knock back Mares Tail?

[mandyballantyne]

I like this idea, what kind of vinegar did use and how much? I have 2 of my raised beds full of grass and weeds and the roots are so heavy it looks like i may need to ditch all of the soilso might be worth a go!

Did it have any effect on later things planted?

Thanks,Mandy

[Nicos]

Nope- but I've heard peeps use boiling water on them - or urine

It's a prehistoric plant....I imagine a real tough cookie to try and kill off

[alldigging]

It might also be the acid affecting the soil too.

I thought it didn't like alkaline soils either - which is maybe why liming might help. (Am sure I've read that)

[Nicos]

I've just read that the roots of Tagetes 'Minuta' roots are 'toxic' to mare's tail roots.
That might be worth looking into as well?

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Mandy I use cheapo white vinegar and pour liberally over the plants that are unwanted. Have used vinegar in a raised bed, you just wait a couple of weeks then plants - no ill effects. Vinegar is regarded as an organic method of weedkilling.

There are allotments near me just starting and a couple of plots have a major problem with Mares Tail and I am wondering if it is worth suggesting wacking some vinegar over the trouble-spots and see if the Mares Tail can be knocked back (there is enough work needing to be done without the constant battle against MT)

Time to Google Tagetes Minuta (I'm not going to offer to have a wee on a plot, not even to help combat MT)

[petal]

I remember our first allotment being riddled with the stuff. It didn't like the application of horse manure and moved to someone elses plot in the end....we created lasagna layers - I think there was an article about that in GYO mag recently. then on the top of the lasagna of compost/manure we would peg membrane to grow through. I know someone who kills it by painting it with creosote, probably a really bad idea?

[SarzWix]

I've just ordered a packet of Tagetes Minuta from Chiltern Seeds I'm not so fussed about the horsetail - it's not pretty but does little harm to the veg I find, but, it's reported affect on couch grass sounds very promising...

FF, I'd be very surprised if horsetail was showing itself above ground yet, it isn't down here, its still forming buds below the surface.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Sarz, have the beginnings of Mares Tail on the allotments already. Wee heads are just above the ground. Nothing in my back gardens but I'm in a frost pocket. So the Tagetes Minuta affect couch grass, mmmh worth remembering. I doubt the vinegar kills the Mares Tail, I'm hoping it knocks it back so that the next year it is weaker. The biggest problem is waiting for a dry spell before using the vinegar.

[Linzy]

Well im gonna give this vinegar thing a whirl. We have a 1/4 lottie and if you dont hoe it for a couple of weeks its absolutly riddled with the stuff. Also going to get myself some Tagetes 'Minuta' seeds. Worth a try i reckon

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Just Googled about Tagetes Minuta and it's affect on perennial weeds especially couch grass, as mentioned by Sarz. There is quite a good blog by Wellywoman if anyone wants a read. There is also talk of it having an affect on mares tail, so perhaps a better option for curbing mares tail in open ground. However whilst I was Googling I came acoss peeps on a forum discussing sowing turnips where mares tail grows. Now I (think) I remember Beechgrove Gardens sowing parsnips where mares tail was growing (I say I think cause I'm talking about the late 70's but something has stuck somewhere in my little grey matter but I just can't remember fully). So more Googlng needed but word of the day is allelopathy

[Speed Gardener]

Does anyone know the effect of Tagetes Minuta on neighbouring plants? If it's good at knocking back weeds, what sort of planting scheme do you use, can you interplant it in a fruit cage that's riddled with bindweed, without killing all the fruit bushes?
What's the area of influence from its roots?
Sorry to ask so many questions but it sounds too good to be true if it kills couch grass and bindweed!!

[Alison]

I've grown Tagetes Minuta in the past and to be honest I never noticed any effects on anything but maybe I was just unlucky. Have some seeds so will be growing more this year though so will have to see.

Re horse or mare's tail or whatever it's called, it's not breaking the soil here yet, even in the polytunnel but if you dig a small hole then you see the buds forming . The couch grass however is already taking hold in some areas so am trying to keep on top of that as much as possible.

[lottie dolly]

found this when googling,blimeee this is my first try at posting a link,thankyou son for the lesson,


Vinegar Weed Killer: Grandma's Recipe For Fast Weed Control





Vinegar Weed Killer: Grandma's Recipe For Fast Weed Control


Vinegar can kill weeds, but how and where can you use it? Many recipes are questionable. See the results of a vinegar weed killer trial, with smart tips for safe ...

[Two_Sheds]

Tagetes Minuta ... can you interplant it in a fruit cage

It's 6ft tall and 3ft, how big's your cage?

I grew it once, it did seem to repel whitefly on the brassicas (or that might've been wishful thinking), but it was an ugly plant and took up a lot of space.
I've never used it again.