Horsetail Problem

Last week I noticed a large amount of horsetail growing up thru the driveway plus along the side of the house. Knowing how much of a pain this stuff can be I treated it with a strong herbicide immediately. I was pleased to see that just 4 days later the whole area was completely dead. However I now have an even bigger problem. The horsetail has started poking up thru the grass (front and back). The bad news is almost every square inch of garden has a piece of horsetail growing.

I can't use the chemicals I used before because it will kill off everything in the garden.
How do I get rid of it?

 

I have seen Rachel de Thame from GW treat individual plants by gently bruising the fronds and applying glphostae with a brush. Tedious.

 

There are hundreds of them though :(

Would AMS work better than glphosate?

 

I am just about on top of this problem after 25 years,in the lawn is no problem keep your lawn cut twice a week and it will eventually weaken and disappear,treat the rest as claire says you can fasten them in a poly bag with glyphosate in it,I also use a flame gun burn them off where you can,if you are persistant you will win,my problem now is from the neighbours drive were it grows profusely the roots can be 15ft long they are like bootlaces I went in there yesterday and burned them off. (the roots not the neighbours)

 

I'm amazed that mowing doesn't finish it off? (or is your "grass" rough, rather than lawn?)

What did you use to kill it off on the drive? (I presume something permanent, rather than just glyphosate or diquat?

 

I use a weedkiller called Challenge60 which is reasonably effective but it really only 'hurts' the stuff. You have to repeat dose, and it is lethal to other plants so has to be used carefully
In beds layers of newspaper topped with decorative bark will keep it away for five ot six years. On paths you can but try with the various weedkillers, although I have found that Roundup has little or no effect
I think Walnut, there just might be a little bit of 'wishful thinking' there
It is a real curse

 

We pick them off, trying to pull up as much root as possible, every week. Straight into a supermarket plastic bag, and straight into the bin (to try to avoid spreading any spores)

I've not had them appear in the lawn (but its fine grass, and cut frequently)

 

I think the general advice is to persevere using a whole host of tactics. You will win in the end-or perhaps not lol, but it's better than letting it take hold.

 

Once had some the stuff growing from behind the skirting in my conservatory...unbeliveable .
It is beginning to show in the garden as usual. Just keep picking and digging away at it. I cant use any chemical warfare because of the pond and the cat
robert

 

I used Brushwood Killer mixed with dirty engine oil,it worked

 

Ammonium sulphamate crystals (sold as 'Deep Root' by 'Growing success') reputedly has better effect than Glyphosphate

 

I used AMS on the drive, it was dead within 4 days. Can't go using this on the grass though.

 

Is AMS the same as Ammonium sulphamate? Never heard it called that before ...

 

Ive used a number of things, in turf regular weekly mowing plus yearly use of a trade turf residual selective (spearhead).

In gravel areas I control it using another trade product (pistol) this a relly longlasting residual and works, couple this with sprayings of roundup plus cutting agent at the maximum label dose. Amonium sulphame or sodium clorate will be your best hope being non trade.

In established borders Id sudgest hoeing as regularly as possible, ideally every couple of days, either that or empty them out and blitz any sign of growth roundup.

Youll probably never rid the garden of it but if you are persistent you can minimise it to a non crtical presence just like with bindweed or ground elder.

 

Thanks for all your tips. I'll try regular cutting while spraying other areas with ams (ammonium sulf).

I must be really lucky, I only just killed the knotweed and now this :(