How can I defeat the horsetail infestation?

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moorland_reiver Marysville, WA(Zone 8b) May 06, 2019

Having taken out the thuja hedge that was an eyesore I have a long strip of dirt which runs from the street to the backyard gate. I want to have a retaining wall built on the neighbor's side, and continue with a raised bed on my side. Unfortunately, the area is full of horsetail. Does anyone know of an alternate way to get rid of them other than nuking them from space? ;)

Thank you in advance!

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Zen_Man Ottawa, KS(Zone 5b) May 19, 2019

I had some horsetail appear on my side of a retaining wall I built (on my property, on the high side) so as to avoid any disputes with my neighbor. Actually, I kind of like the stuff -- it has a kind of prehistoric look. I did wind up digging it out, along with some Johnson Grass roots that had gotten there somehow. Physically removing it and sending it in the trash to the local landfill works. I chose not to use a herbicide solution for several reasons -- I don't like to use herbicides (chemical poisons) and I didn't want to risk a problem with my neighbor if there was any run-off of the herbicide. Another neighbor (we had a 7-sided lot) used a herbicide that contained Arsenic as a major ingredient along our mutual property line. So I couldn't grow anything edible in that general area of my lot. I didn't want to inflict anything similar on my down-hill neighbor.

Some people use a Flame Thrower to burn unwanted plants (weeds) to the ground, but I would not recommend that for several reasons (other than the obvious burning down of the neighborhood.) Plants like horsetail (and Johnson Grass) would just come back up from the roots. I would recommend a good digging fork. And maybe a narrow slim deep penetrating spade.

Oh, and if you are going to be digging, call that number that has a guy come out and detect whether there are any utility lines to avoid.

ZM

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flowermaiden2 Saint Maries, ID Jun 05, 2019

Horsetail is as common as the stars where I live. It's everywhere in my garden and beyond. Digging it out would mean digging forever. It never gives up. As much as I hate using stuff like RoundUp, it leaves me no choice. There just aren't that many hours in the day to dig incessantly. Same can be said of Canadian Thistles. Biggest pests in the world, those two!

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