mares tail

Definitely :( It appears in odd places around my garden, and is in the hedgerows for fields in the vicinity, but not directly adjacent to me. I reckon that hitting a new plant hard, when it first appears, is effective though. I never pull those, I always use chemical.

 

In our previous garden, I used the "pull vertically" each time I saw it appear more than 3 inches above ground-level (I found I needed that much growth to get a good "grip"), probably needed to do it no more than 6 times during the growing season. Over 7 years, I completely removed it from one bed, and drastically reduced it's appearance in the other, wilder bed). I found it not to be too vigorous, and as "black-list" weeds go, was relatively easy to get on top of....

 

Try using SBK if glysophate won't do the trick, ok, SBK will need longer to break down but done now, the soil will be ready
for planting around April time? just a thought

 

Thanking you all, i’ve taken everything on board and now know more about this horrid weed.

I should post you photos of the plot really “ComingSoon"

 

hi j0rkie, I was wondering how you were getting on with your marestail problem?

It will be going dormant within the next month or so, and is relatively late emerging in the spring, so don't be lulled into thinking the problem is gone. One thought I had was to mark (either on a sketch, or on the ground) where it is at the moment, so you know what area of your plot to monitor closely next spring....

 

Super advice from Kristen, basically said everything I was going to say and more! I can confirm if you damage the stems and then apply weed killer it does work but you do have to keep at it! Black polythene laid over the offending areas after applying weedkiller can also add to the success but you will be doing very well to eradicate it completely. Husband had time his hands 1 day and decided he'd have a go at digging some out. 5 hours and about 10ft deep later the roots were still going and I called a halt to proceedings as was envisaging the hole collapsing and me having to try and drag my not slim husband out of said hole!