Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Anybody have any successful methods or experiences eradicating horsetails?
We have millions of them. Jillions and kazillions.
I know they have extensive root systems from which they send up new shoots, and underground tubers which also propagate new growth. And they also send off airborne spores to reseed themselves. Is this a successful weed or what??
The biggest problem I have removing them is that they wind their way into rock ledges and under paved surfaces where it's utterly impossible to remove the roots and tubers from which they resprout immediately. I can't use any kind of herbicide, and they're immune to Roundup anyway.
Help! These things have taken over a 4 acre landscape and are winning the war.
Horsetail has been taking over here in southeast Alaska too, I've never seen it spread so thick and far. I thought it was just an Alaska problem! Horsetail are among the oldest plants, been on the planet some 300 million years so are definitely prolific & tough to get rid of. All you can do is just keep pulling it up, get as much root as possible. Other than that, you'll probably have to get used to living with it - and take advantage of it's many wonderful uses.
As a tea or tincture it is used for internal bleeding, kidney stones, rheumatism, bladder & urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers. It also helps the system utilize calcium thereby strengthening bones. As a poltice it is used to staunch bleeding and heal old festering wounds, tumors & cysts. As a bath herb it increases circulation, refreshes tired bodies, helps a variety of skin problems. Horsetail tea makes a wonderful hair rinse, even more so if blended with stinging nettles. A decoction of 1 heaping teaspoon dried horsetail and/or nettles with 1 cup boiling water stimulates hair growth, eliminates dandruff and head lice. This can also be used to rid pets of fleas.
One word of caution! Be sure to harvest horsetail while the branches are UPRIGHT.
Sorry, didn't mean to send that yet. When the branches of the horsetail droop the silica in it has crystallized which can cause kidney irritation so be sure to harvest it early when the little branches are upright.
When you're camping, try using a handful of horsetail for a scrub brush. It also makes a great 'sandpaper' for that final smooth finish on fine furniture.
If you're being overrun with horsetail, you might as well get some good use from it, but good luck getting rid of it!
(non-member) MSG to Azoria __ Re: your Horsetails, get a hold of a commercial Landscaping & Garden Center in Snohomish, WA, Steuber Distributing , (360-568-2626) ... and ask them to tell you about MonoBore Chlorine. Dry granules like 20# for $35.- Seems it is the ONLY thing that REALLY gets w/ the program ! Hope this helps -- worked pretty nifty here in Everett (N. of Seattle) ... WOW ... just looked and realized you are right down the road -- sorry <giggles> ... Call Steuber's -- they are VERY knowledgeable re: these issues ...
GrammasCabin is right about medicinal and supplemental uses. Horsetail, hawthorn, and kudzu in particular are underused in this country.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
