Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

I have a natural clay pond and mistakenly put this plant in it two years ago. It isn't in baskets but rooted directly into the clay and would completely fill the pond if I didn't keep getting in there and pulling it out. But pulling it only gets the stems and hardly ever the roots, so it just keeps coming back. Has anyone else had a problem with this plant?

Re: Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

Reply from Valerie Munro

Hi Sue

This plant has a lot going for it, which is why is has survived for many many years. Its leaves are quite tough and waxy which makes using a product containing glyphosate quite difficult. However, if you perservere, you will win but it will take many applications, and you do have to be extremely careful. It works by being taken into the heart of the plant, through its leaves, right down to the roots where it acts as a food blocker, and the plant starves to death

You have to take great care when using this product as it cannot tell the difference between your green (horror) marestails and the green of another precious plant.

However, you have not said what else is in the pond that might make using this product difficult. Rather than using a spray formulation, you could buy it as a paint-on get so that you can target the plant and not the surrounding areas.

You can help the process along a little by crushing the leaves before you apply the paint. This will assist the product penetrate more efficiently.

Another route would be to wait until the spring when the new shoots have appeared, and cut off individual stems a few inches below the water surface (but not to the bottom). This is another way of starving the plant.

I hope that this helps
Auntie Planty
www.auntieplanty.co.uk

Re: Hippuris Vulgaris (Mare's Tail) - How to get rid of it?

Reply from Geof

Hi Sue, I have the dreaded relation of Mare's Tail, Horsetail growing in my garden. My attempts at continually digging out roots seem to help in the short term but it always comes back. I have discovered a product that claims it will kill these weeds. I haven't used it yet but will buy in spring and try it. Check this site http://www.progreen.co.uk/index.php?c=55&p=156&gclid=CIrg4vjc9J8CFc9i4wodTg2gXQ .It is called Kibosh and I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has used it. Hope it works for you Sue, if you decide to use it. Geof