mares tail

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.