Nasty weeds

Rinus K

I've some very nasty weeds in my borders. Horsetail and ground elder. If I try to pull them out the roots always break and the grow even faster. Below the surface they created a whole root network and they pop up everywhere just like bindweed. Spraying Roundup might damage my appreciated plants but weeding is not effective.

Anyone the "golden tip" or is it just on my knees once a week and destroy the little green devils untill they give up the battle

Supernoodle

Ground elder - spraying mid May seems more effective than at any other time.  I used a sheet of plastic to shield other plants whilst spraying

pansyface

Ground elder is mortal and you will eradicate it eventually. Horsetail has signed a pact with Beelzebub and is the plant equivalent of The Undead. You will never be rid of it.

 

Rinus K

Hi Supernoodle

So you have to spray them while the leaves are young and fresh?

Will it only kill the leaves and a small part of the root or will the whole network of roots be affected?

Supernoodle

Yes, I guess May is the time when its growing most strongly.  I've done it then and wiped most of it out.  Yet at other times it doesn't seem to have much effect. You'lol need to get most of the leaves sprayed ie just getting some assuming that the roots are all interconnected won't work.

Rinus K

Hi Pansyface.

If I try to pull out the horsetail it seems the root is elastic and then breaks.

New shoots pop up far from where the weed started.

I know farmers hate horsetail as it is toxic for the cattle

NorthernLass2

Rather than spraying it use a paint brush and paint it on.   That way you won't run the risk of getting the plants you value by mistake.

Good luck ....   I've been getting rid of ground elder for 20 years!

ice

Crush horsetail before applying glosphate, some has appeared in stoned and grassy areas this year, all mine have been small but it spreads. Glosphate and crushing does seem to work but new shoots appearing. Not as often now though hopefully I've weakened it for next years battle

Lou12

I have loads at the back of my border. I dig them up the second I see one but the problem is my neighbour who doesn't garden, there are thousands his side (the other side of the fence) so it's a never ending war.

Ann fowler

I also have the dreaded weed horsetail & I'am doing what ice suggests, I also have the perennial Lathyrus in the same border, although this is pretty it swamps all my other plants, I know I will never eradicate the horsetail but if spray both & dig out as much as I,am able to, then cover with cardboard & leave from now until spring then put fresh compost on top do you think this would eradicate the Lathyrus, please can someone advise me.