mares tail

tipptom · 28-06-2014 8:50pm #1

I have about an acre in a narrow strip that runs alongside a river.
This year it has become infested with mares tail.I have a couple of horses that I would have out on it now but I have kept them of it because of it,i understand from reading up on it that it is bad for them if it was baled but that it is ok fresh but am not taking a chance on it.

Its supposed to be practically immune from weedkiller because of its waxy coat(supposed to be bruised before spraying) so I'm looking for opinions or cheap options on what to do about it bearing in mind I don't have tractors or stuff like that to tackle it with myself.

just do it · 28-06-2014 9:03pm

It's a scourge of a thing. On an acre you probably need to roll it to bruise it and then spray. Expect to do it a few times over a number of years though.

sheebadog · 28-06-2014 9:14pm

Include liquid urea with the herbicide.

I said · 28-06-2014 9:18pm

Using Gallup here every couple of weeks in a small area getting good kill don't want it spreading

Jimfo1970 · 28-06-2014 9:51pm

tipptom wrote: »

I have about an acre in a narrow strip that runs alongside a river.
This year it has become infested with mares tail.I have a couple of horses that I would have out on it now but I have kept them of it because of it,i understand from reading up on it that it is bad for them if it was baled but that it is ok fresh but am not taking a chance on it.

Its supposed to be practically immune from weedkiller because of its waxy coat(supposed to be bruised before spraying) so I'm looking for opinions or cheap options on what to do about it bearing in mind I don't have tractors or stuff like that to tackle it with myself.

We had this with a house we inherited and tried everything. There is only one weedkiller that will take care of this weed. It's called Kurtail. You can buy in on ebay.co.uk. Its not the cheapest but it does definately work.

Jimfo1970 · 28-06-2014 9:54pm

Here it is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321441538549?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2661

£42 approx but one treatment does the job.

williemakeit · 28-06-2014 11:15pm

Mortone kills mares tail.

Jimfo1970 · 28-06-2014 11:17pm

williemakeit wrote: »

Mortone kills mares tail.

I tried all the usual ones. Never tried Mortone but will keep it in mind.

tipptom · 29-06-2014 9:50am

Thanks for all the replys,the Kurtail don't deliver to Ireland but will have a look for it here,does it need to be bruised before spraying.
Will have a look at the Mortone,like the idea that it kills rushes as well,do they need bruising beforehand.
Would strimming the top of them count as bruising?

sheebadog · 29-06-2014 9:56am

tipptom wrote: »

Thanks for all the replys,the Kurtail don't deliver to Ireland but will have a look for it here,does it need to be bruised before spraying.
Will have a look at the Mortone,like the idea that it kills rushes as well,do they need bruising beforehand.
Would strimming the top of them count as bruising?

Wasn't messing re liquid urea. Liquid urea + strong sun will penetrate waxy layer.

tipptom · 29-06-2014 2:38pm

sheebadog wrote: »

Wasn't messing re liquid urea. Liquid urea + strong sun will penetrate waxy layer.

I thought urea was something to do with fertilizer,what sort of price does it come in at and how much would I need for an acre?

my3cents · 29-06-2014 2:57pm

Check the active ingredient in Kurtail, its glufosinate ammonium, and Basfa sell Basta which also contians glufosinate ammonium so Basta might be an alternative?

tipptom · 29-06-2014 9:04pm

my3cents wrote: »

Check the active ingredient in Kurtail, its glufosinate ammonium, and Basfa sell Basta which also contians glufosinate ammonium so Basta might be an alternative?

So who sells this in Ireland?

adne · 30-06-2014 10:15am

2fourD kills mares tail

my3cents · 30-06-2014 10:44am

tipptom wrote: »

[/B] So who sells this in Ireland?

Wish I could remember

The reason I knew the active ingredient is because I picked up a bottle and read the label but can't remember where. Then it didn't help that I said it was a Basfa product when in fact its a Bayer product, its on the Bayer website for Ireland so is available here.

BrenCooney · 30-06-2014 6:01pm

Recently had to spray a patch with mares tails also so I made a mix of 2,4,D and a glyphosphate herbicide and all dead within two weeks! Also put in some washing up liquid in the mix for adhesion to the plants.

tipptom · 30-06-2014 8:37pm

BrenCooney wrote: »

Recently had to spray a patch with mares tails also so I made a mix of 2,4,D and a glyphosphate herbicide and all dead within two weeks! Also put in some washing up liquid in the mix for adhesion to the plants.

Whats 24d and what herbicide did you use,is it expensive for the area I may have to do?

Jimfo1970 · 30-06-2014 9:11pm

tipptom wrote: »

Thanks for all the replys,the Kurtail don't deliver to Ireland but will have a look for it here,does it need to be bruised before spraying.
Will have a look at the Mortone,like the idea that it kills rushes as well,do they need bruising beforehand.
Would strimming the top of them count as bruising?

I have a half bottle of Kurtail left over. I can also get you a full bottle as I have someone comes from Uk by ferry every week if you want a bottle. This is the only weedkiller that worked for me. pm me if I can help.

Oldtree · 30-06-2014 9:51pm

BrenCooney wrote: »

Also put in some washing up liquid in the mix for adhesion to the plants.

Have been looking for an idea like this and was going to try sunflower oil. What was the ratio of washing up liquid to weedkiller to water please?

BrenCooney · 30-06-2014 11:42pm

2,4,d is the short name for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic. It's a broadleaf herbicide found in lawn weed killer. I used a 25 litre knapsac sprayer and used about 100 mls of an ordinary kitchen washing up liquid as a wetting agent. It gets the herbicides on the plants, keeps it there and through the waxy coating.

my3cents · 01-07-2014 10:04am

I've had what looks like a total kill on mares tail more times than I can remember only to have it come back again the following month or year.

I was using up some old SBK brushwood killer and gave a clump of mares tail a good dose in passing and it went over and now 4 weeks later is completely gone but I really doubt I've killed it. I've battled with it on different sites for 30 years and never completely won the battle.

tipptom · 01-07-2014 8:51pm

my3cents wrote: »

I've had what looks like a total kill on mares tail more times than I can remember only to have it come back again the following month or year.

I was using up some old SBK brushwood killer and gave a clump of mares tail a good dose in passing and it went over and now 4 weeks later is completely gone but I really doubt I've killed it. I've battled with it on different sites for 30 years and never completely won the battle.

Your not filling me with a great deal of confidence here lol.

tipptom · 01-07-2014 9:00pm

Jimfo1970 wrote: »

I have a half bottle of Kurtail left over. I can also get you a full bottle as I have someone comes from Uk by ferry every week if you want a bottle. This is the only weedkiller that worked for me. pm me if I can help.

Thanks for the offer Jimfo,am mulling over what to do,a lot of the guys seem to have cures for killing it but I am looking to something that may keep it away if that's possible(probably not),does the Kurtail offer anything about the afterwards.
They say that this weed goes back to the dinosaurs,its like some bad b-movie where it reappears when you think you have killed it.

my3cents · 01-07-2014 9:01pm

tipptom wrote: »

Your not filling me with a great deal of confidence here lol.

I've never tried kurtail so perhaps there is hope.

The weed has been around since before the dinosaurs so it has a proven track record for survival.

Ger Byrne 1 · 01-07-2014 9:04pm

what does it look like

my3cents · 01-07-2014 9:08pm

tipptom wrote: »

Thanks for the offer Jimfo,am mulling over what to do,a lot of the guys seem to have cures for killing it but I am looking to something that may keep it away if that's possible(probably not),does the Kurtail offer anything about the afterwards.
They say that this weed goes back to the dinosaurs,its like some bad b-movie where it reappears when you think you have killed it.

If you have the patience and are spraying in a grass then a dose of any of the selective weed killers will give you some control without making the site look a brown mess. 2,4D on its own is perhaps the weakest (but cheapest) of the selective weedkillers that will have some affect on it and the more expensive mixes of a selection of selective weedkillers will be a little more effective.

If you are spraying near water then please read the label carefully on anything you use, gyphosate based weedkillers like Roundup are OK near water but will kill everything, don't know if kurtail is OK or not near water.

my3cents · 01-07-2014 9:17pm

Ger Byrne 1 wrote: »

what does it look like

Try https://www.google.ie/search?q=mares+tail+prehistoric+weed

Oldtree · 01-07-2014 11:02pm

Ger Byrne 1 wrote: »

what does it look like

very like a horse tail, can't mistake it

Jimfo1970 · 01-09-2014 10:44pm

Jimfo1970 wrote: »

We had this with a house we inherited and tried everything. There is only one weedkiller that will take care of this weed. It's called Kurtail. You can buy in on ebay.co.uk. Its not the cheapest but it does definately work.

Unhappy to report that this dreaded thing is back again. Kurtail killed it last year but despite spraying the area again this year it has sadly returned. Hope I did not lead anyone wrong.

my3cents · 01-09-2014 11:02pm

Jimfo1970 wrote: »

Unhappy to report that this dreaded thing is back again. Kurtail killed it last year but despite spraying the area again this year it has sadly returned. Hope I did not lead anyone wrong.

In the UK on a sandy soil I've dug down 6ft and still found roots. If you kill it down say 2 foot it might be 2 years before it comes back up again but it normally does.

On non crop areas I had some success with Casoron G but thats no longer available and no good on a river bank.

If Kurtail knocks it back for a full year then that still sounds good to me. Roundup only gives a couple of months control so you'd have to spray 3 or more times a year with it.

Jimfo1970 · 01-09-2014 11:09pm

my3cents wrote: »

In the UK on a sandy soil I've dug down 6ft and still found roots. If you kill it down say 2 foot it might be 2 years before it comes back up again but it normally does.

On non crop areas I had some success with Casoron G but thats no longer available and no good on a river bank.

If Kurtail knocks it back for a full year then that still sounds good to me. Roundup only gives a couple of months control so you'd have to spray 3 or more times a year with it.

It disappeared for a full year but back again. I am going to spray it again and will report back. Thanks

just do it · 02-09-2014 6:12am

Jimfo1970 wrote: »

It disappeared for a full year but back again. I am going to spray it again and will report back. Thanks

Where did you get the Kurtail?

Jimfo1970 · 02-09-2014 7:07am

just do it wrote: »

Where did you get the Kurail?

On e bay UK. Here it is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321441538549?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2661

The listing is closed but it may have being renewed. You can always contact them directly.

Jimfo1970 · 02-09-2014 7:12am

Here's their newest listing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kill-Horsetail-Mares-tail-and-other-weeds-with-Kurtail-weedkiller-0-5ltr-/321495269973?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Fertiliser_C

tipptom · 02-09-2014 6:12pm

Wonder do the dept of agriculture have anything on this because it seems to have got a hold since the real wet weather.

Anyone know if its ok for cattle and horses to eat?

my3cents · 02-09-2014 6:46pm

tipptom wrote: »

Wonder do the dept of agriculture have anything on this because it seems to have got a hold since the real wet weather.

Anyone know if its ok for cattle and horses to eat?

Its on lists of plants poisonous to horses but not found what the toxicology is so no idea what it might or might not do to them. I'd be interested to hear of anything that actively eats any Equisetum spp.

Funny thing is my biggest fight with mares tail was in the UK on perfectly drained sandy soil, its roots feet down were however not short of moisture and the mares tails would often thrive when other established plants were dying of drought.

Start a business making organic pan scrubbers. Cut bunches of mares tail put a twist of wire or string (old copper wire is good) around the bunches trim them up and see how well they will scour a dirty pan. Read recently that they also contain Nicotine so if someone can invent some electronic device for smoking them then you might have an even better market.

Honestly I've been trying to get rid of them for so long I have to joke or break down and cry.

If they have gone mad this year then its a great opportunity to get out and spray them, I always reckon that Roundup is most effective on really difficult weeds if they can suck it down with them into the roots during the winter after a late August/September spraying. Reminds me I have half an acre of a neighbors Japanese Knotweed to tackle fairly soon - he'll never do and if someone doesn't do anything it will be my problem anyway.

Jimbo789 · 17-05-2021 10:36am

Can Kurtail be purchased in Ireland?

Base price · 17-05-2021 12:01pm

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Can Kurtail be purchased in Ireland?

Weedkillers that contain 2.4.D will kill horsetail. Mortox 50 which is available in Ireland will kill it as I've used it previously.

monseiur · 17-05-2021 3:36pm

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Can Kurtail be purchased in Ireland?

Grazon Pro will kill mares tail, you may have to go at it two or three years to get all the dormant seedlings.
If you want a complete kill of everything in one spray, grass and all, add some gloyphate weed killer - Roundup, Gallup or similar.
Grazon Pro will not kill grass, it may stunt it's growth for a week or two.

Mimon · 17-05-2021 3:42pm

Worked in as a gardener in Holland years ago, was on a job where the owner of the garden was prepared to pay for us to dig out the mares tail "roots"

When I left to go to another site we had gone about 9ft and there was still roots at that level.

mares tail

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