Best weed membrane for horsetail

christinarleon

Hi,

we have horsetail and marestail and brambles on our land, only in small clumps luckily but we are going to put gravel down on a large section of the end of our car park to make a garden with raised beds and pots. I have spent weeks digging up all the toot system for the brambles and other weeds but understand that will not help with the horsetail I'm very worried I'm going to choose the wrong weed membrane. A friend recommended one from B&Q that is like a thick fleece fabric rather than the woven black stuff that I see everywhere on council ground....usually not doing a great job.

Any recomrndations will be very welcome! the land is on a stream so don't want to put a lot of weedkiller down.

Dave Humby

This troublesome weed came up on another thread this morning:

http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/tares-take-over-nice-folks-garden/999529.html

There are other threads on the topic linked into the replies so plenty of reading. Unfortunately you won't find a membrane that will resist the penetration of mares tail.

KT53

In one of the other threads on the subject of horsetails, I read that the don't like lime.  If you're not planning to plant that area it might be worth spreading garden lime at max recommended dose before laying a heavy duty membrane.  The fleecy type start to break up within a year or so, as I know to my cost.

christinarleon

Thanks, annoyingly I'm dyslexic so struggle to find clear information on things. 

Dave Humby says:

This troublesome weed came up on another thread this morning:

http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/tares-take-over-nice-folks-garden/999529.html

There are other threads on the topic linked into the replies so plenty of reading. Unfortunately you won't find a membrane that will resist the penetration of mares tail.

See original post

 

christinarleon

will be worth a try if it's safer than weedkiller.

Thank you 

KT53 says:

In one of the other threads on the subject of horsetails, I read that the don't like lime.  If you're not planning to plant that area it might be worth spreading garden lime at max recommended dose before laying a heavy duty membrane.  The fleecy type start to break up within a year or so, as I know to my cost.

See original post

 

Dave Hedgehog

The best membrane is concrete.

Adding lime as KT53 suggested may help but there's no membrane that will stop it. Even the heaviest duty landscaping membrane can supress it, although it will punch through eventually - just as it does through thin tarmac.

BenDover

I had horsetail in my previous house garden.  I just kept on pulling it up, and over 3/4 years it started to go really pathetic looking and then eventually just gave up the ghost.  I'd obviously exhausted it.  Perseverance is the key to these pernicious weeds.

Conor Coyle

I had major problems with horsetail at my last house, particularly around my raised veg beds. I used the following membrane:  

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006H1N3VO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

with the following clips.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LQZB9F8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and topped with about half a foot of wood chips which I ordered from a local tree surgeon.

The end result was less horsetail in that area, which was easier to manage. Unfortunately I doubt there is a membrane out there that will hold horsetail back completely.   

Guybrush

Try some three foot thick titanium plating and scatter some nuclear waste round and only then might the horsetails be at least managable. I've had a 25 year battle with horsetails and I think both of us are now war weary and just want it to end. 

christinarleon

Can I get that all at B&Q? ?

Guybrush says:

Try some three foot thick titanium plating and scatter some nuclear waste round and only then might the horsetails be at least managable. I've had a 25 year battle with horsetails and I think both of us are now war weary and just want it to end. 

See original post

 

jobod92

Dave Hedgehog, or anybody, just how thick will my concrete slab for my new greenhouse need to be in order for horsetail not to grow up through it please?