can anybody help me im sick of trying to dig marestail out of my allotment as much as i hate to use it im going to use a weedkiller has anyone any suggestions im not going to grow any thing onthe half im going to kill till next year and my chickens and any other animals will not be going on or near >:(
It seems that GLYPHOSATE is the only thing that will touch mares tail and that after repeated applications. I read somewhere that if you break the stem and paint the GLYPHOSATE on the plant, it keeps it alive and allows the killer to get to the root.
Alternatively harvest it and sell it to the herbal trade, mares tail is rich in silica.
I think you need a bit of Gramoxone from a friendly farmer, and I think you leave it 6 months...
sodium chlorate with a bit of washing up liquid mixed in just to degrease the plant, but needs a good six months
thanx everyone i shall try them. i dont even know where its come from the more weeds (NETTLES ,DOCS ETC ) i clear the more of my plot it seems to take over and the growth rate is scarey ikeep thinking its going to engulf me, my family and my chickens once again thanQ all
Could I suggest that you try Deep Root. I have a Horse/Marestail ridden plot and this is the only weedkiller that knocks it right back and no re-growth. Before planting I do give the area a thorough dig and weed.
Once applied you see results in about a week and can replant after 8-12 weeks but I prefer to leave my treated areas until the following year.
Something else I did this year out of desperation to get more ground under culitivation was to rotovate it ::) ::) This broke up the ground, enabling me to go over it again with a spade to get out all the evil roots. Compared to areas that I have just hand dug, it has been remarkably effective in controlling the evil weed.
I don't think there are any short term solutions (you probably know this by now) but digging and applying weedkiller has got to make it miserable ;D
Good luck
Make up a small amount of RoundUp or SBK or Tumbledown in a clean empty washing up bottle. Wear rubber gloves, give the marestail a bit of a shoeing just to weaken its surface but don't break it off, then squirt the glyphosate onto a glove and rub it up and down on the marestail.
Other plants can be killed by precision squirting but the marestail iin particular needs to be roughed up a bit first.
well thanx everyone for your suggestions i feel better already about it. Ive tried to ask at the majer stores and they always reccomend the dearest or there own make failing that you get a spotty youth who looks like hes just woke up and says things like HUH! WHA? or even looks rite through you. Anyway ive ENOUGH OF THE BLASTED STUFF TO TRY ALL YOUR IDEAS. thanx again