Horsetail: is it Satan in disguise?

My two newest gardens, around the ditch in the front of my yard, are infested with an overabundance of horsetail as a weed. I know I can pluck the stalks down, but is it effective at all? Or is there a better way to control it? Or is it laughing at me, as it is the Lord of Darkness in disguise?

Rob

Hi Rob - just read on another thread about using lime to alter the ph up - they don't like it at all. don't remember the thread - think Pixy posted....

Think it was Ratliff in Seattle area. Jeanette

Will raising the pH up significantly bug the perennials that we so proudly covet? I am talking of the range of plants, as I can't say that I was very selective when I put them together. I would hate to kill the horsetail and my posies in one fell swoop.

Probably depends on what posies you have in there with them. My sister had horsetail in her lilacs. Just lucky that lilacs like the lime but horsetail does not.

You should be so lucky. Go to the member page or address exchange and see if you can find Ratliff. D-mail him/her and ask how the lime worked and about your other plants.

Jeanette

We just had a off topic horsetail discussion in the Voles' thread which is where Pixy had said something about lime raising the PH and killing horsetail. I have a few gardens that are infested, and I have pulled and pulled for over six years and still have plenty of the stuff, so I can tell you that that doesn't work!

Have you, or are you going to try the lime?

Jeanette

I'm going to buy a couple of bags of lime this weekend. It certainly can't hurt to try. The beds that I have the worst problem in are mostly roses and daylilies, so they wont' mind a bit. If it helps, I owe Pixy big time..I have been fighting this stuff for ten years, and haven't made any headway at all! Will let you know how it works. May be a while before I know though, as I can't stand to let these things smother my plants...they will all be pulled, but usually have a second flush in a month or so, so if it comes back weaker (or dare I say, not at all?) I will know that it has made a difference.

Good luck.

Are you guys talking about Equisetum hyemalis? I have cosseted a tiny stand here for years & was going to bring it with me to Oregon. But I have SO much to learn about this new climate -- no doubt many of my faves are noxious weeds in such a warm climate.

Wow, Summerkid, be careful what you take into a climate like Oregon. Is it in the zone 8? There are a lot of plants that are really invasive in the milder climates.

I don't know what the botanical name is for it.

Jeanette

Hi Rob, Long time no see! Here's the link I posted on the other thread:
http://www.swansonsnursery.com/PDF/1_GENERAL/Horsetails.pdf

It's a pretty good article about increasing ph, aeration, and soil fertility. Many plants can withstand a wide range of ph. You have nothing to lose by trying the lime and fertilization in a small area to see what happens. Basically, it looks like horsetail likes a soil with low fertility, acid ph, and moisture - just like carnivorous plants do. Take those things away and it goes, too. It may take awhile. If you can't beat it, though, just think of how helpful this plant is! It removes all kinds of heavy metals from the soil!

Yep, Jnette, I've never gardened in anything warmer than Z5. So moving to a Z8b will be something else! Mostly good, but definitely a learning curve. For instance, we can barely keep English ivy alive out here ...

You will love Oregon.

Jeanette

Hee hee - don't worry summerkid, the ivy will do well out here. And you shouldn't have any trouble finding horsetail fern.

Where are you moving to in Oregon? There is lots of variety there - the eastern part of the state is more arid desert and has more extreme summers and winters. West is coastal and definitely more temperate, with rain in the winter and dryer, warmer summers.

The North of the state is bordered by the Columbia River and gorge and can produce terrible ice storms in the winter. South gets pretty warm and has more of a Northern California-like climate.

Oh, I'm moving to Rose Lodge, just outside Lincoln City (coast) and about 90 minutes southwest of Portland. I've been meaning to start a "garden tour" thread because it is a SPECTACULAR place ... but alas, I have a lot of work between now & D-Day, sometime in July ...

(I grew up in Montana & much of my family now lives in the Gorge. My dad lives in Wenatchee, a bit to the north.)

my goodness, summerkid! You will be having a field day! You should start a thread for people to post plants to avoid to save yourself some trouble.

Summerkid, I agree that you will be in heaven gardening here! I also really agree with Pixy regarding a thread about what to avoid. My first yard had horrible clay soil, and you had to ammend drastically to get things to do well. Then I moved into the foothills with wonderful soil, and things that "barely got along" in my city house took over my yard. I have found that if something says "may be invasive", it will be in my yard. It would save you a lot of time and frustration to learn by our mistakes!

SK - you will also learn that the "expected height/spread at 10 yrs" info on a plant tag does not apply here.
We have Super-Gigantor Slugs, too.
Hummers year-round.
Unpredictable weather no matter what they say...
Lots of choices on what to grow, as well as availability.
Let us know when you're on your way here!

Get this -- the previous owner was a master gardener. I've never even lived in a house that had ANY sort of garden beforehand. Talk about going from 0 to 60!

Yes, I am going to start a thread for myself, to avoid hijacking all the others with my wonder & questions!

Oh, so you're going to have lots of plant ID questions, I'll bet. We'll have fun watching your garden tour. You'll have to start your own thread and take us along.

OOH, lucky you! I'll bet it's going to be beautiful!

So I grabbed a bag of hydrated lime and the directions said 1 pound for 30 square feet, which I attempted to estimate as I spread it with my hands. Then I watered it off the plants and into the ground. Sure hope it works. Because those gardens are thick with it. And if it does anything, the lawn around there will get the second treatment, as it is thick with it, too.

AnalogDog, I just so happened to go to Lowes on my way home tonight and grabbed two bags of lime myself. If it actually makes a difference...even a dent, I will be indebted to Pixydish for life! Keep us updated, and I will do the same.

Please don't expect these things to drop dead immediately like if you poured roundup on them. I don't think they go that quickly. May take all summer. And Yes, I think you can continue to pull them. The lime should affect the roots. If it looks funny, like caked on the soil, take a 3 pronged gadget (rake) and scratch it in. Water should do good.

Please let us know how it does.

BTW, I don't think lawns like lime???? Best google that.

Jeanette

I realize that this will take time, and I am planning on doing the fertilzer thing in 2-3 weeks to hit them that way too. Besides the posies will like it too. :-)

Yeah, how about some pictures???? Always makes you feel better to see the progress. And us too.

If you get a chance, take a look at Sherrygirl's planting in Pasco, WA.

She did a really nice job on her flower beds. (I am just skipping around looking at things in the latest postings under the posts).

Jeanette

Yeah, how about some pictures???? Always makes you feel better to see the progress. And us too.

If you get a chance, take a look at Sherrygirl's planting in Pasco, WA.

She did a really nice job on her flower beds. (I am just skipping around looking at things in the latest postings under the posts).

And Flashzoom's in Sandy, Oregon. She has a real creepy plant growing in her attic, crawl space and shed.

This time of night you get most of the west coast.

Jeanette

Where are the pictures ????

flashzoom http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/992017/

sherrygirl

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/992013/

You all didn't come up with solutions to either of them!!!!! Jeanette

Sherrygirl's garden looks beautiful!
The photo of the weed is going to be hard to id if there is no close up of the leaves. Looks like perhaps campanula leaves, but I can't really tell. The form it's growing in is likely due to lack of light.

Rob and Julie, I would suggest watering really well, waiting a week or so, then doing a soil ph test. You might be surprised at how much lime it takes to raise the ph.
also, I wonder if it would help to water with baking soda water? just thought of it as I'm typing so haven't thought it through.

Horsetail, is truly a big pest...we have it at our beach home in northern coast...and it even comes up through the black top! No kidding.
I've found that roundup works pretty good...when they are just popping up as then you don't have to worry about spraying the other plants around them.
Its a rizome so where ever you break it, it starts again. ugh!
I read where you can clean your pots and pans when camping.
Also read it has the natural silicone properties and you can use it to dry or preserve flowers etc.
good luck

Horsetail was what my mother always had me put on nettle stings to make them stop itching. They have other medicinal uses, too. But I sure wouldn't want the darned things in my yard.