RE: more invasive menaces (horsetails)
- To:
- Subject: RE: more invasive menaces (horsetails)
- From: D* W*
- Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 09:43:30 -0800
- Importance: Normal
There is a chemical called Crossbow that works. It's the only one that
I know of that will contain it. Spray the plants when they have
attained near maximum size and are moving photosynthesized sugars to the
roots for winter storage. (Gads, WHAT were you THINKING????) Horsetail
roots have been studied by the University and found to extend over 20
(!!!) feet deep into the soil. You'll be spraying Crossbow for a couple
years to finally get rid of it all.
--
The Greenhouse Nursery
81 S. Bagley Creek Road & Hwy 101
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 417-2664
Zone 8
20 feet deep! My goodness. Thanks for that. Good to know what you're up
against. There are horsetails in patches all over the front third of our 5
mostly bush acres. I've used the black plastic technique to suppress them in
beds near the house. My aim is for control rather than irradication. Over
time I've learned that covering them for a year <or more> only works if I do
not cultivate.
Dig to any depth -- and the horsetails are back.
Early this summer we slipped up badly and left Angus, our oversized dog,
tied up for 12 hours in the heat of the day without water. Between boredom,
frustration and trying to find shelter from the heat, he escavated several
very large holes and cleared quite a swath in the bush. Took out a big
patch of alder saplings. By summer's end there was a new crop of horsetails
everywhere Angus had disturbed the soil!
<He was confused, happy to see us and very thirsty, but ok and has forgiven
us. And we won't do that again! Poor old puppy!>
I've tried to learn to admire horsetails' persistence and remember never
ever to transplant anything from the front to the back which -- touch
wood -- remains a horsetail free zone!
Donna
USDA Zone 6-8.
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