Gardening Advice

[emzy]

Originally Posted by bonny_tuesday

did you get rid of the horse tail emsy?
Bonny x

Nope, tried weed killer but they came back so have just resorted to cutting them down , i know its not a cure but all i can do, they are growing up between the path and bricks so will struggle getting the root out, they just break at the base when i pull them

[bonny_tuesday]

They are the hardest weed to get rid of in this country. Apart from using the strongest weed killers the only thing you can do is to keep pulling them up as soon as you can. They have two ways of spreading. Each of the weeds, you will have noticed, is comprised of little bits of stem that slot into each other, each of these can start a new plant!! so it is really important that you dont let any of the bits fall into new crevices or anywhere when you pull them out. Get hold of them at the very base and give a gentle tug or rip, depending on how many you are pulling at once, it is better to do them individually. As soon as new shoots show, pull them again. This weakens the plan, you must make sure that you get it as soon as it shows. Under the ground there are more growing tips, formed on the roots but you wont be able to get hold of these. The pulling method weakens the plant and in the end it will give up. It will take about four years of constant pulling to get rid of them. Once you start pulling them you will notice that some of the new shoots have a very dark brown tip, it is VERY important to dispose of these properly because these tips have MEGGA amounts of 'babies'.
So in short, keep pulling them out, dont drop any bits, do it as soon as they show, and make sure you get rid of all the bits, even the smallest bit of the plant can make a new one.
Good luck!
Bonny x

[emzy]

Originally Posted by bonny_tuesday

They are the hardest weed to get rid of in this country. Apart from using the strongest weed killers the only thing you can do is to keep pulling them up as soon as you can. They have two ways of spreading. Each of the weeds, you will have noticed, is comprised of little bits of stem that slot into each other, each of these can start a new plant!! so it is really important that you dont let any of the bits fall into new crevices or anywhere when you pull them out. Get hold of them at the very base and give a gentle tug or rip, depending on how many you are pulling at once, it is better to do them individually. As soon as new shoots show, pull them again. This weakens the plan, you must make sure that you get it as soon as it shows. Under the ground there are more growing tips, formed on the roots but you wont be able to get hold of these. The pulling method weakens the plant and in the end it will give up. It will take about four years of constant pulling to get rid of them. Once you start pulling them you will notice that some of the new shoots have a very dark brown tip, it is VERY important to dispose of these properly because these tips have MEGGA amounts of 'babies'.
So in short, keep pulling them out, dont drop any bits, do it as soon as they show, and make sure you get rid of all the bits, even the smallest bit of the plant can make a new one.
Good luck!
Bonny x

Oh heck, have my work cut out with this one, stupid weeds, dont like gardening anyway but this just adds to my problem (plus they are next door aswell and they dont seem bothered about theres so i will never get rid of them i dont think)

[bonny_tuesday]

Em, try once more with weedkillers that says it kills right down to the root. Before you do it, bruise the weeds by gently crushing them, i.e. treading on the, but not breaking them to bits. This way the protective coating that the weed has (some form of silica) is broken down a bit and the weedkiller can be absorbed by the plant. Give them a good dose of weedkiller. Do it at night after the children have gone to bed and they should be safe to touch by moring, but dont let your children pull them, they will spread the and you definately wont be able to get rid of them then!!!
As it is, if they are growing next door even stronger than they are growing in your steps and path, the roots underground will keep on pushing up, no matter what you do on your side of the fence!
Round here in Helmshore, the horse tail grows through the tarmac pavements!!!!
I have it in one of my back borders, Ive only been here just over a year, and I am in the process of getting rid of it there, but i can plant things there that are stronger than the horse tail and eventually it will give up trying to compete.
Its a horrible weed!!
Bonny x

[emzy]

Thanks for your help, I have another weedkiller (which i bought for the back but they are just "normal" weeds) which I will put down out front when the rain decides to give up for a bit. Hopefully will get there eventually