Horsetail or horsetail is very difficult to get rid of. Once he feels at home in the garden, you have little chance of destroying him permanently. Weed killers don't help much. The only effective remedy is digging up and sifting the soil - and even with this method, horsetail is difficult to control permanently.

Horsetail is very persistent

That's why horsetail is so persistent

Horsetail is one of the oldest plants in the world. Over the millennia, the plant has developed mechanisms to survive even under unfavorable conditions. It tolerates waterlogging, grows particularly well on compacted soil and is incredibly vigorous.

Horsetail propagation occurs in two ways. On the one hand, horsetail forms rhizomes that produce offshoots. They grow both vertically in depth and horizontally in width. The shoots grow several meters long, so they can even grow under houses.

On the other hand, horsetail does not reproduce via seeds. The plant does not form flowers but spikes of spores. The spores are spread everywhere by the wind in spring.

Natural means to destroy horsetail

  • green manure
  • create drainage
  • lime the floor
  • loosen soil
  • Sieve out root residue
  • Take off horsetail
  • cut off spore ears in spring

All the natural means you use to destroy horsetail are aimed at loosening the soil and preventing the soil from becoming too wet. Horsetail does not like permeable and loose soil.

To loosen the soil, sow a green manure. Lupins get very long roots and are therefore particularly well suited. The roots remain in the soil and decompose there, making the soil permeable to water.

Lime green manure and soil

Horsetail does not like dry soil. Make sure that rainwater and irrigation water can seep away well into the ground. In the case of very dense, heavy soil, you should always create a drainage system before planting beds or sowing a lawn.

Horsetail loves acidic soil. Check the acidity of the soil if there is a lot of horsetail. If it's too acidic, lime it. This noticeably slows down the rapid growth of horsetail.

Manual work is required

The most effective way to destroy horsetail is to dig up the rhizomes. However, this is not so easy because of the depth of the roots. Even removing the topsoil and filling it up again doesn't always help.

However, you can curb the growth of horsetail if you loosen the soil deeply, collect all the rhizomes and then sift the soil several times. Smaller root residues can also be pulled out of the ground.

Always use a digging fork when digging. With a spade you just pierce the rhizomes and stolons into more parts. A new plant can grow from each individual part.

What helps to remove horsetail in the lawn?

Horsetail in the lawn is a real nuisance because you can hardly get rid of it without completely clearing the lawn and sowing it again.

It is helpful to scarify the lawn in the spring. This strengthens the grass plants and forms denser carpets that make it a little harder for horsetail. Don't cut the grass too short to keep the ground shaded. If the soil is very acidic, lime it. This also contributes to strengthening the grasses.

Some gardeners swear by lawn darkening. A film is placed over the affected areas and left there for a while. The lawn also turns brown in these areas, but it usually recovers very quickly. This measure may be worth trying before removing and replanting the entire lawn.

Get rid of horsetail with weed killers

The use of weed killers is pointless with horsetail. Chemical agents act on the surface. However, since the roots of horsetail run very deep, the poison does not reach them.

It is therefore better not to use weed killers at all, as they will hardly do anything and instead damage all other plants and the garden beneficials.

Plant horsetail in a pot

Horsetail is valued in naturopathy and cosmetics. As a horsetail manure it is a very good fertilizer and as a broth it is effective against powdery mildew on roses.

If you want to plant horsetail in the garden to have a supply, it is better to cultivate the horsetail in the tub. Then it cannot spread through the rhizomes in the garden.

You should always cut off the spore spikes as soon as you discover them. Remains of horsetail - whether spores or roots, do not belong in the compost. Destroy the leftovers by disposing of them via the garbage disposal.

tips

There are some home remedies recommended for removing horsetail, such as pouring hot water over the area or sprinkling salt or vinegar on the horsetail. These measures can help for a short time - they do not permanently remove horsetail.

Category:

Vegetable garden