Mulching sheet / woven fabric

Paul is right about not being able to kill mares tail by smothering it but I wouldn't suggest hoeing as any bit of root left lying around might spread the weed. Although it is harder, pulling it vertically will remove the plant and some of the root and then put it in your garden waste that is taken away. Don't put it on your compost heap :eek:.

You need to accept that mares tail will be with you - it has survived since prehistoric times!! Mares tail (equisetum) loves ponds as well and can quite happily fill your pond up. So you will just need to be vigilant and you can keep on top of it.

We accept it as part of the life in our garden and find it fairly easy to keep under control. I go on a regular mares tail patrol . In June, July and August you need to make sure it doesn't grow too big as that is when it sets its spores.

 

The lawn area will, of course, be under control.

Yes, it can grow through mulch sheet. The thicker and tougher the sheet the harder it will be for it to grow through - but it won't die :eek:. Although restricting the light does affect it, it will survive.

If you use non-porous sheet then it finds it much more difficult but then you may have a waterlogging problem. The roots can travel sideways as well.

The area under the trees can, and will, remain an area for the mares tail but you can easily keep it under control. I'm not quite sure how you envisage using the sheet but you could run it under the pond and under the 'shelf' and bring it to the surface between the 'shelf' and the tree area. Effectively creating a basin for your 'shelf' plants. If you are able to run the sheet deep enough so that the soil in the 'shelf' doesn't get too waterlogged (I am assuming they are 'bog' plants) then you have a good barrier that should be quite effective.

I think what all of us have been saying is that you can't bank on anything killing mares tail. The roots will survive without light and will follow any crevices in the soil. Without the light this will be a slow process. You will still need to remain vigilant because of spores from the tree area seeding the 'shelf'. In the tree area they will grow slower because of low light levels and drier soil but you will still need to 'pluck' them regularly and remove them totally from the garden. Regular mowing of the grass area will not weaken them but will prevent them getting to the stage where the spores form.

Isn't gardening fun :eek:
Good luck :thumb: