Horse tail weeds also known as horsetails or Equisetum, are some of the most annoying and difficult to control weeds in gardens and lawns. With their fast-spreading rhizomes and deep root systems horse tail weeds can quickly take over gardens, lawns, and flowerbeds.
In this complete guide, I’ll explain exactly how to identify horse tail weeds, why they are so problematic, and most importantly, the best methods for getting rid of horse tail weeds for good.
What Are Horse Tail Weeds?
Horse tail weeds (Equisetum arvense) are a primitive, invasive perennial weed with jointed hollow stems and whorls of slender leaves at the joints. The stems resemble horsetails, giving the plant its common name.
There are two types of horse tail stems
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Fertile stems – These are short, thick and brownish in color They produce spore cones at the top for reproduction.
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Sterile stems – These are taller, thin, and green stems with whorls of leaves.
Horse tail is considered a living fossil plant, as they have remained unchanged for over 300 million years.
Why Are Horse Tail Weeds Problematic?
There are several reasons why horse tail weeds are so problematic in gardens and lawns:
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Fast spreading rhizomes – The underground rhizomes of horse tail weeds spread rapidly, easily invading gardens, flower beds and lawns.
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Deep roots – Mature horse tail plants can have roots extending 5-6 feet deep into the soil, making them difficult to pull or dig out.
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Waxy leaves – The leaves have a waxy cuticle that repels water, making them resistant to most herbicides.
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Spore dispersal – The fertile stems produce thousands of spores that spread readily through wind and water.
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Grow in poor conditions – Horse tail actually thrives in wet, poorly drained, acidic soils where few desirable plants can grow.
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Hardy survivor – As one of the oldest plants on earth, horse tail is adaptable and resistant to control methods. Regrows readily if any roots remain.
How to Identify Horse Tail Weeds
Identifying horse tail weeds is important for effective control. Here are some tips:
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Look for jointed hollow green stems with rings of slender leaves at joints. Resembles small horsetails.
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Fertile stems are brown, thick and have spore cones on top. Sterile stems are thin, green and taller.
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Grows in wet, poorly drained areas or acidic soils. Spreads rapidly through rhizomes.
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Distinctive rough, sandpapery feel when rubbed between fingers.
Best Methods for Controlling Horse Tail Weeds
Controlling invasive horse tail weeds takes patience and persistence. Here are the most effective methods:
Use Systemic Herbicides
Systemic herbicides like glyphosate (Roundup) that move through the plant and kill the roots are most effective. However, horse tail’s waxy leaves resist absorption.
For best results:
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Cut plants back and damage leaves before spraying herbicide. This allows better absorption.
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Use herbicides containing triclopyr or 2,4-D amine. More effective on horse tail than glyphosate alone.
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Make 2-3 applications per season to kill regrowth and damage roots.
Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Pre-emergent herbicides like Casoron prevent new horse tail growth but won’t kill existing plants. Use in early spring to stop new shoots from rhizomes.
Dig and Remove Roots
For small infestations, repeatedly dig out plants including all roots and rhizomes. Must remove all root fragments as they will resprout. Follow up repeatedly as new shoots emerge.
Cover Plants with Tarps or Mulch
Covering horse tail plants with a secured tarp or thick mulch layers deprives them of light needed for growth. Leave covered for at least 2 years.
Improve Soil Drainage
Horse tail thrives in wet, acidic soils. Improve drainage by filling depressions, digging trenches or adding underground pipes to divert water.
Increase Soil pH
Raise pH by adding dolomite lime per package directions. Horse tail prefers acidic soils. Making soil more alkaline discourages its growth.
Fertilize the Soil
Horse tail thrives in low fertility soils. Adding balanced fertilizer gives desirable plants a competitive advantage to crowd out horse tail.
Control Resprouts
Even after horse tail plants are killed, spores can lead to resprouts. Quickly cut down and destroy any new shoots before they spread spores.
What Not to Do When Removing Horse Tail Weeds
There are also some control methods that do not work on horse tail weeds:
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Pulling stems rarely kills them, and just creates more root scars that resprout.
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Digging may spread roots fragments throughout the soil.
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Non-systemic herbicides only kill above ground parts but not the roots.
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Vinegar or bleach only provides temporary top-kill but not long-term control.
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Covering with plastic sheeting or mulch may actually encourage the weed’s growth.
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Rototilling or cultivating chops up root sections and worsens the infestation.
Key Takeaways on Horse Tail Weed Control
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Identify horse tail by its jointed stems and horsetail-like appearance.
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The deep, spreading rhizomes and resistant nature make it hard to kill.
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For best results, use systemic herbicides combined with cultural controls like improving soil.
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Be patient and persistent! It can take up to 2 years to fully get rid of horse tail weeds.
With diligence and repeatedly using effective control methods each season, you can get rid of troublesome horse tail weeds from your lawn and garden for good.
LuEsther T. Mertz Library Plant & Research Help
I have a property that has been inundated with horsetail. Unfortunately, it is spreading into my gardens and lawn. Have you any recommendations as to how I might eliminate it or contain it? I have tried cutting it down and hand-pulling it, but it has extremely deep root systems.
Equisetum arvense, commonly called field horsetail, looks like a prehistoric survivor. This perennial can be one of the toughest weeds to manage. The ancient genus Equisetum was the dominant plant group during the Carboniferous Period, 359-299 million years ago.
The plant has fleshy tubers that grow along the underground rhizomes singly or in pairs, positioned from a few inches to six feet deep in the soil. The tubers store carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis, allowing field horsetail to have amazing regenerative capability and making it difficult to control.
Two types of stems grow from the rhizome annually. Tan-to-white fertile stems, resembling short asparagus sprouts, grow up to a foot tall in early spring. These stems are unbranched and leafless, topped by a spore-bearing cone up to four inches long. Since they lack chlorophyll, these fertile stems die shortly after releasing their spores. After the fertile stems die back, sterile stems arise and grow about two feet tall. These stems are grooved and hollow, covered with whorls of feathery leaves that make the plant look like a green bottle brush or a miniature conifer.
Controlling Field Horsetail
Control options include repeated mowing or mechanical removal. Although it can take years, dedicated removal of the sterile stems depletes the carbohydrate reserves and will eventually exhaust the rhizome. Field horsetail grows best in full sun and so can also be controlled by shading. Mechanical removal of the stems followed by mulching with black plastic can also be effective. But one reference says that smothering the plants with black plastic or other mulch is not effective, as horsetail thrives when conditions are wet, dark and low in oxygen. Sprouts emerge when the plastic or mulch is removed no matter how long the plant has been covered. Tillage can make the problem worse by spreading the rhizomes and/or tubers.
Mechanical Control
Although it is not a quick solution, horsetail can be controlled by eliminating top growth repeatedly, preventing spores from germinating. Cut off the green growth above ground whenever it appears; the plant will eventually die out.
If you are purposely cultivating a patch of horsetail, you can control its spread both by repeatedly removing shoots in areas where you dont want them and by removing the shoots that produce the spore-filled cones.
Cultural Control
The most effective, though uncommon, approach to eliminating horsetail is to alter the conditions in which the plant is growing, making the site inhospitable to horsetail. Horsetail thrives in wet conditions, so improve drainage by filling in low spots that hold water and installing drainage ditches, small swales, or dry streambeds to divert water. The plant prefers poor, infertile soil, so boost soil nutrient content with chemical fertilizer or (preferably) organic compost, aged manure, or fish emulsion. Raising the soils pH is a key element in a horsetail-control plan as well, since the plant prefers acidic soil. Add agricultural lime to the soil two weeks before or after the fertilizer for best results. Though it may take up to five years, the plants will go away on their own using this tactic. Keeping the greenery and spore cones cut hastens success.
For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides. – Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
How to Get Rid of Horsetail | DoMyOwn.com
FAQ
How do I get rid of horsetails permanently?
stomp them gently to break the stems. Load them up with weed killer that can now penetrate them and get into their roots. That really does work. But if they’re too close to other plants like growing out the rockery then you just got to keep pulling them out. It does get less frequent but not by much.
What kills horsetail weeds?
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Reddit · r/GardeningUKhttps://www.reddit.comAny recommendations for killing off marestail/horsetail? – RedditAug 16, 2021 — There is no “bad soil” that naturally occurs. There is soil with WD40 in it, however. Pull out the rhizomes, even just yank them out and leave the s…
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Solutions Pest & Lawnhttps://www.solutionsstores.comHorsetail Control – Broadleaf Weeds – Weed Control – Shop All
Will vinegar kill horsetails?
It is best to have a licensed professional apply herbicide. Natural methods such as vinegar will not kill horsetail.
What is the best spray to kill horsetail?
Use of herbicides such as the total weed killer Kurtail Evo or the selective SBK Brushwood are more effective if used correctly. We detail the best chemical control method for killing horsetail / marestail in our blog here.
How do I get rid of horsetail weed?
Getting rid of horsetail weed in gardens and other areas of the landscape is no easy task. Horsetail weed in gardens can be a major problem because this plant has a tremendous root system with rhizomes. There is no specific horsetail weed killer and many chemical options are just not very effective.
How do you kill horse tail weeds?
Chemical Control Method. Cutting is generally ineffective in killing horse tail and digging can often make the problem worse as each broken root fragment can develop into a new plant. Use of herbicides such as the total weed killer Kurtail Evo or the selective SBK Brushwood are more effective if used correctly.
What is the best weed killer for horsetail?
To get the best results you should use a post-emergent systemic weed killer. This kills the horsetail from the inside all the way down to the root. Weed killers containing glyphosate can do the job, such as RoundUp. But a better choice are products containing the herbicides 2,4-D and triclopyr. So the best weed killer for horsetail is Crossbow.
Does vinegar kill horsetail weeds?
Vinegar is a contact weed killer. This means it can destroy the parts of the plant it touches. But it won’t kill the roots. So the horsetail will re-grow. However, destroying the growth above ground with repeated applications can weaken the plant. And if applied regularly over a long enough period it can cause it to die.
Can you kill horsetail weeds by hand?
Horsetail weeds have a natural resistance that protects them from the typical main ingredient in these sprays — glyphosate. Since you can’t reach for your typical herbicides to eliminate horsetail, you might think pulling the weeds up by hand would make sense. After all, doing so would get the roots. Right? Not really.
Can You Suffocate horsetail weeds?
Another mistake many gardeners make is trying to suffocate the weeds with plastic or mulch. But neither one of these solutions will kill horsetail. In fact, the plant will consider it a welcome blanket, since it loves moist, dark, and low-oxygen conditions. In other words, covering horsetail will only encourage the weed to thrive.