How to get rid of horsetail on your property. Horsetail - reproduction and ways to combat it on the site

Such an ancient fossil that survived all natural disasters such as horsetail, is not so easy to remove from the garden, because there are legends about its vitality. The rhizomes go into the ground to a depth of two meters, so even forest fires are not afraid of it. Let's find out whether it is possible to defeat him on your site or whether you should put up with his neighborhood.

How to get rid of horsetail in a natural way?

Effective measures to combat a weed such as horsetail include planting its enemies - plants from the cruciferous family - in its habitat. These can be either vegetables - cabbage, oilseed radish, or mustard, rapeseed and others.

Due to the fact that all these plants release substances into the soil that horsetail does not tolerate, and thus in a few seasons you can completely remove the unwanted guest from your site.

Use of chemicals

Industrial chemicals, especially in high concentrations, can kill all living things on the site. But horsetail does not always react positively to it precisely because of the deep-lying root system. That is why it is so important to start fighting this weed as soon as it appears on the site and does not have time to go deep into the soil.

To combat horsetail, various herbicides are used that act both on the greenery and on the underground part of the plant. “Heliphos” is very popular among gardeners because it has high activity against weeds, but is harmless to humans, domestic animals and beneficial insects.

Reducing acidity in the soil

Before removing horsetail from the garden, you should do a soil analysis - perhaps it is too acidic, and this is directly related to the active development of the weed. The fact is that this weed plant grows only on acidic peat bogs, and even when high humidity, so these two factors may not play into the hands of the garden owner.

Having made sure that the soil PH exceeds the permissible norm, it is necessary to begin to take measures to reduce it. There are two ways for this, and both of them are harmless and even useful - this is liming the soil and saturating it with ordinary wood ash. Both in a few summer seasons will make even highly acidic soil unsuitable for the development of horsetail.

Ash can be scattered throughout the growing season without the risk of harming garden plants, but liming is carried out only in the fall, when the garden has already been harvested. To do this, 2 to 3 kg of fluff lime are taken per 1 m2 in the first year, and subsequently only 500 grams of the substance are used for the same area. This will be enough to bring the soil back to normal and destroy the weed in 2-3 seasons (depending on the initial acidity).

The property of horsetail to remain viable for a long period thanks to its reproductive organs (rhizomes and tubers), which lie deep in the soil, provides it with powerful potential and creates conditions under which this weed is difficult to control.

The plant is distributed throughout almost the entire temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, growing in North and South Africa and the Canary Islands. It is also a component of the flora in many areas of North America, Canada and Europe due to its strong regenerative ability - it can spread both through rhizomes and spores.

The distribution area of ​​horsetail is impressive - it grows from the tropics to the polar regions, with the exception of Australia, and in both swampy and arid areas. Some species contain silicon in the epidermis, an element that gives the stem rigidity and strength.

Horsetails are represented mainly by fossil forms. Modern plants Weeds have about 32 species and are represented by small forms - not exceeding 40 cm. Of these, nine grow in Ukraine. The most common types of horsetail in our country are field, meadow and marsh. Horsetail is distributed almost throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, and in the steppe regions - only in river valleys, ravines and ravines.

Horsetail refers to weeds, which are harmful objects, the spread of which in crops leads to a decrease in their yield both in fields and in household plots. Horsetail has a very harmful ability to “seize territory” - rapid settlement and spread. Particularly favorable for its growing season wet places, acidic soils, swamps, wet meadows, banks of rivers and reservoirs. It should be noted that fields and pastures that are poorly drained or not drained at all are hotbeds for its spread, as well as places with sandy soil and gravel such as roadsides, railroad tracks, beaches, and the like. Best conditions For the spread of horsetail, in addition to moisture, there is also an acidic reaction (pH) of the soil.

Horsetail is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Horsetail family (Equisetaceae), 15-40 cm high with a brownish-black branched rhizome, in the nodes of which spherical nodules are formed. The rhizomes grow both vertically and horizontally: they penetrate deep to 1.8 m, and in width lie at a depth of 25 to 50 cm. On the horizontal branches of the rhizome, numerous shoots and spherical tubers with a diameter of about 1.25 cm are formed, placed alone or in pairs.

Horsetail in winter period is preserved in the soil by vegetative underground stems - rhizomes, from which fruit shoots with sporangia appear early. The sporophyte of horsetails consists of a horizontally located underground stem - a rhizome, from which thin branched roots and articulated aboveground stems extend. The lateral branches of the rhizome form small nodules with a reserve nutrients. The stem contains numerous vascular bundles located around the central cavity. On the stems, as well as on the rhizome, nodes are clearly visible, which gives them a segmented structure. A ring of secondary branches extends from each node. The leaves are small, wedge-shaped, arranged in a ringed manner - they clasp the stem in the form of a tube. Photosynthesis occurs in the stem. In addition to assimilation stems, horsetail forms unbranched spore-bearing shoots of brown color, at the ends of which sporangia develop, collected in spikelets, where spores are formed.

Horsetail spores have ribbon-like projections (elaters) with which they cling to each other, and therefore germinate in groups, forming chlorophyll-bearing gametophytes. Some of them are male prothlae from antheridia, the second are female from archegonia. After fertilization, facilitated by the presence of moisture, a new organism develops. After the spores spill out, the shoots die off, and green branching (vegetative summer) shoots grow in their place. Vegetative propagation occurs thanks to shoots that sprout from rhizomes and continues until late autumn. Shoots are capable of forming even segments of rhizomes 1 cm long.

Horsetail plants produce two types of stems: spore-bearing and sterile. Spore-bearing shoots are pink-brown, succulent, unbranched, jointed. The leaves are arranged in rings and grow together, forming bell-shaped, thickened sheaths with eight to ten black-brown teeth. Spore-bearing shoots are formed in early spring and bear at the tops ovoid-cylindrical spikelets with sporophiles, in the sporangia of which spores are formed. After the spores mature, the spore-bearing shoots die and the plant develops sterile green shoots (7-50 cm tall). Barren shoots are simple or branched, with 6-12 ribs and polyhedral branches placed at random and directed upwards. The tops of the stems are without branches. The sheaths are narrow, bell-shaped, light green below, with dark brown triangular-lanceolate teeth and a white border at the top. The stems and branches are surrounded by a small toothed sheath at each node. A light-loving plant with sporulation period in March - April. The depth of germination from the sprout is no more than 50 cm.

Horsetail does not produce flowers or seeds; the plant reproduces by spores, horizontal rhizomes and vesicles. Spore-bearing stems develop in early spring; one spikelet produces millions of tiny spores (0.1 mm in diameter). They are viable for approximately 48 hours after release from the spikelet ( necessary condition for their germination - a humid environment). Since the spores of this weed are too small, when carrying out agrotechnical or chemical measures at this stage it is possible to destroy the vast majority of them, if not all potential horsetail plants. Scientists have found that it is inappropriate to consider spores as one of the ways horsetail spreads, in particular in fields where agricultural activities are carried out.

Horsetail reproduces, as noted above, by spores formed on spore-bearing shoots and spreads through rhizomes. According to foreign researchers, it has been established that half of the rhizomes, that is, 50%, are concentrated at a depth of 25 cm in the soil profile. And the remaining 50% was distributed equally at a depth of up to 50 cm - respectively, 25% of rhizomes for every 25 cm of soil depth.

Under certain conditions, the plant reproduces by vesicles growing from the nodes of the rhizomes and which are separated from it. Therefore, with the help of such propagules, vegetative propagation horsetail.

It should be taken into account that horsetail plants have the ability to reach the soil surface from great depths of rhizomes. For example, the study found that individual segments of rhizomes 1.25 cm long, which were planted to a depth of 15.24 cm, easily produced new shoots. Also horsetail during short periods can withstand shade and continue growing even in the absence of rhizomes required quantity produced carbohydrates that are stored in them and are needed for the growth and development of plants. sunlight directly affects the formation of bubbles. Thus, the formation of bubbles quickly decreases when plants are shaded. Conversely, their production increases when plants grow in full sunlight.

Due to the fact that the rhizomes reach a depth of several meters, horsetail plants tend to withstand without complications for their growth and development long periods no precipitation. This property significantly limits the effectiveness of its control using both agrotechnical and chemical measures. Also, storage and regeneration organs, nodules, serve as a means of spreading the weed. The size of the bubbles increases depending on the depth of the rhizome and contributes to the strong regenerative ability of the plant. It was established that horsetail plants after a flood sprouted through silt layers up to 1 m thick. With systematic processing, spore-bearing stems are not formed.

How to get rid of horsetail

The main measures to control horsetail are aimed at its depletion. To do this, tillage operations are carried out with deep pruning of the root system using moldless implements. Chemicals control of horsetail should ensure the penetration of systemic drugs directly into the root system.

During 50 years of research into the effect of herbicides on limiting the number of horsetail, an interesting result was obtained. It turned out that their use to control annual broad-leaved weeds created the preconditions for the dominance of horsetail in agricultural crops. Also, based on the research, scientists concluded that horsetail is too sensitive to competition for light as the main factor of growth and development.

One of the features of the biology of horsetail is its slow growth. Shoots that sprouted from rhizomes in March reach their maximum growth only in July. maximum height- in August. A maximum amount Horsetail forms shoots in September; dry matter does not accumulate in the rhizomes until October. The nodules formed at the end of summer increase both in size and in number until November.

It was also established that soil cultivation depleted large underground reserves of carbohydrates in horsetail plants. However, the weed was very resilient due to its large underground root system. Soil compaction and long-term grain crop rotations, that is, monocultivation, contributed to an increase in the number of horsetail. Repeated loosening of the soil during one production season had little effect on weed development, but minimal tillage in a monoculture stimulated the growth and spread of horsetail after several years.

In addition, during the research, certain patterns were identified that influenced the decrease in the number of horsetail against the background without the application of nitrogen fertilizers and the simultaneous application of potassium fertilizers. It was established that under the influence of the latter, the growth and development of horsetail was limited even without the application of nitrogen fertilizers - it was suppressed as a result of accelerating the growth rate of agriculture and increasing its competitive capabilities around the world. Thus, there is no reason to consider nitrogen fertilizers as one of the factors stimulating the growth and development of horsetail.

Given the complex biology of weeds, scientists continue to explore effective measures collections with horsetail, including chemical ones. Since the vegetative organs of reproduction and spread of the weed lie deep in the soil and have defense mechanisms, facilitating its long-term storage and survival in unfavorable conditions, the use of selective contact herbicides does not provide a pronounced long-term effect in limiting the harmfulness of horsetail. Thus, preparations based on the active ingredients glyphosate, MCPA, dichlorprop and mecoprop had a limited effect on the growth and development of horsetail after their use. In addition, it was noted that as a result of the insufficient effectiveness of herbicides, the physiological activity of the weeds changed significantly.

It was determined that even the effectiveness of the continuous action drug, glyphosate, in controlling horsetail was unsatisfactory. Agricultural producers, from experience with the use of glyphosate, noted that after applying it three times during one season to limit the harmfulness of horsetail, the following year there were no signs of a decrease in its distribution in these fields.

At the same time, continuous action preparations based on glyphosate, due to their systemic effect and ability to control segetal vegetation both on the surface and in the soil, remain one of the most effective preparations for the control of horsetail.

To obtain maximum technical efficiency of herbicides during spraying, factors such as the biological activity of the weed and optimal weather for its development during the entire period of action of the drugs. That is, the effectiveness of the drugs used for treatment is directly affected by the active vegetation of horsetail. In addition, it is not advisable to apply preparations during severe drought, during which the germination of weeds will slow down and water stress will occur in the plants. Therefore, spraying is recommended after precipitation. If precipitation is expected in the near future (4-5 hours before treatment), spraying is not advisable, since the active substance of the herbicide will not be completely absorbed by the weeds during this time.

In July-October, certain physiological processes occur in the plant, in particular the active growth of the rhizome, the formation of bubbles and the stable storage of assimilates in the underground system. Therefore, application of glyphosate in August during the study provided consistently better control than sprays applied earlier in the season. The increased movement of assimilants at the end of summer into the organs of active growth (rhizome tips, nodes and vesicles) contributed to better translocation of the drug.

Of course, the fight against horsetail is complex problem, which cannot be solved even by repeated cultivation of the soil. The developed system of rhizomes does not allow the horsetail to be completely destroyed - during spraying in the weeds, only the above-ground part of the plant is destroyed and its recovery is slowed down. An experiment conducted by scientists in Canada showed that hand weeding areas infested with horsetail 16 times over the course of one summer did not provide sufficient control.

In passing, we note that during 2013-2014, six surveys were carried out on corn crops on Ontario farms. field tests in conditions of heavy horsetail infestation to determine the effectiveness of various post-emergence herbicides for controlling this weed. It was found that after the use of drugs based on nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron or flumetsulam and rimsulfuron in combination with flumetsulam, the phytotoxicity of corn was minimal and short-term and amounted to 3% or even less.

For maximum effective fight with horsetail, there are only two herbicides recommended for use on non-agricultural lands. In nurseries ornamental plants, berry and fruit trees, diclobenil (trade name Casoron) should be used, the use of which is also advisable in sowing grain crops. The second herbicide is chlorsulfuron (trade name Telar) or sulfometuron (trade name Oust).

In contrast, the use of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron in combination with MCPA, flumetsulam in combination with MCPA, rimsulfuron in combination with flumetsulam and MCPA caused phytotoxicity of maize within 6%. The application of post-emergence herbicide - nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, flumetsulam, MCPA, nicosulfuron - and the combination of rimsulfuron + flumetsulam and rimsulfuron + MCPA ensured technical efficiency by limiting the number of horsetail from 22 to 68%, reduced weed density by 27-64, and biomass by 38-77%.

Spraying corn crops with preparations based on flumetsulam in combination with MCPA and nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron - with flumetsulam and MCPA controlled horsetail at the level of 69-83% and reduced the density and biomass of weeds at the level of 87%.

Based on these data, it can be concluded that the combination of flumetsulam with MCPA and nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron with flumetsulam and MCPA provided the best and most consistent control of horsetail in corn crops compared to the use of a post-emergence herbicide, the effectiveness of which was studied during their trials. .

According to the proposals of domestic scientists effective drugs to combat horsetail, recommended by the “List of pesticides and agrochemicals approved for use in Ukraine” are preparations based on the following active ingredients:

2,4-D 500, RK - 0.9-1.7 l/ha - for spraying vegetative weeds in crops of cereal grains and cereal grasses during the stage of organogenesis of tillering, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Agritox, RK (MCPA in the form of sodium and potassium dimethylamine salts, 500 g/l) - 1.0-1.5 l/ha, 2M-4X 750, RK (MCPA in the form of dimethylamine salt, 750 g/l) - 0 .9-1.5 l/ha (or other herbicides based on 2M-4X) - for spraying vegetative weeds in crops of cereal grains and cereal grasses during the stage of organogenesis of tillering.

Dialen Super 464 SL, w.r.k. (2,4-D, 344 g/l in acid equivalent + dicamba, 120 g/l, in the form of dimethylamine salt) - 0.8 l/ha (winter wheat), 0.5-0.7 l/ha ( spring wheat and barley), 1.0-1.25 l/ha (corn) - for spraying vegetative weeds in cereal crops during the tillering stage of organogenesis, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Esteron 60, k.e. (2-ethylhexyl ether 2,4-D, 850 g/l) - 0.6-0.8 l/ha (barley, wheat), 0.7-0.8 l/ha (corn) - for spraying vegetative crops weeds in crops of barley, wheat during the stage of tillering organogenesis, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Prima, s. e. (2-ethylhexyl ether 2,4-D, 452.2 g/l in combination with florasulam, 6.25 g/l) - 0.6 l/ha - for spraying vegetative weeds in cereal crops during the stage organogenesis of tillering, sorghum and corn - at the stage of three to five leaves.

At the same time, scientists note that horsetail roots lead to clogging of drainage pipes and are one of the reasons for ineffective work drainage systems in Lithuania. Therefore, in such conditions, limiting the spread of horsetail is an acute problem. One of the reasons that influenced the spread of this weed was the agrochemical composition of the soil in the fields. To control this field contaminant in areas where field drainage is used, both mechanical and chemical measures are recommended. To determine their effectiveness, the results of weeding, soil liming and the use of herbicides (Roundup Classic and Dialen 400 SL) were compared.

According to research data, it was found that the restriction of the growth and development of weeds was maximum when liming the soil and intensive weeding of horsetail. In addition, liming reduces soil acidity. The application of herbicides reduced the invasion density by an average of 38%.

For targeted control of horsetail, all possible measures should be taken. In particular, it is recommended to cover the row spacing with black plastic film or mulch the soil. Used for mulching various materials of organic origin (chopped bark, wood shavings, pine needles, branch trimmings, dried lawn grass, mown hay, etc.) and inert (gravel, river pebbles). It is recommended to lay mulching materials on spunbond or geotextiles. It is advisable to drain over-moistened areas.

Horsetail reacts negatively when adjacent to cruciferous plants, such as winter rapeseed, oilseed radish, white mustard, arugula and others. The root secretions of these plants have the ability to suppress weeds. Therefore, one element of control may be to sow fields after harvesting with these cruciferous crops. It is worth noting that winter rye also has alelopathic properties - this crop can be sown to limit the number of horsetail.

As one of the possible measures to combat horsetail, foreign scientists recommend attracting birds, in particular ducks, which readily consume this type of weed. Also individual species insects feeding on horsetail, in particular Dolerus spp., Grypidus equiseti, Grypus spp. and Hippuriphila spp., disrupt its normal growth and development.

conclusions

Summarizing the above, we can conclude that it is impossible to ensure complete and reliable control of horsetail. To achieve absolute control, you need to develop and implement long-term programs, which contain agrotechnical and chemical measures. It should also be taken into account that drainage and liming of soils are important elements its control systems. And the cultivation of agricultural plants in conditions of high agricultural culture, the introduction of varieties with high competitive properties to limit the growth and development of horsetail are indispensable measures to control its numbers. It should be borne in mind that perennial weeds are characterized by extreme productivity, and if their reliable control is not ensured through reclamation, agrotechnical and chemical measures, agricultural yield losses will be significant.

I. Storchous, Ph.D. agricultural sciences

Citation information

Biological features and methods of control of horsetail / I. Storchous // Proposition. - 2017. - pp. 116-122

Horsetail is a very harmful weed. It most often ends up in the garden along with imported or purchased soil. Its “tentacles” and spore-bearing parts easily spread throughout the entire area. If you don’t remove it in time, there will be trouble; all plants and even fruit bushes may die. Therefore, you need to understand in detail what measures can be taken to act effectively and not in vain. So, let’s talk a little in our format about the horsetail plant, how to get rid of it in the garden, of course, we’ll tell you in more detail.

There are four main ways to fight:

Use of chemicals;
Application of dolomite flour;
The use of other plants in the vicinity of which it will be impossible for horsetail to grow;
Reducing such an indicator as soil acidity.

So, how to get rid of horsetail in the garden? So that you choose the method yourself, it’s worth talking about each of them in a little more detail.
What chemicals are best to use?

It is known from botany that horsetail is a grassy weed; it has no flowers and reproduces by simple spores, just like a mushroom. Because of this, experts recommend using herbicides to kill the weed. In particular, many of them recommend a drug such as Glyphos.

It is recommended to use it in the evening, preferably when the weather is calm and dry. The drug is relatively dangerous, but it is harmful beneficial insects he doesn't bring it. For example, it is not dangerous to bees.

Glyphos belongs to class IV hazardous herbicides. For this reason, it should only be applied in rubber medical gloves. It is advisable that there are no flowering plants in the garden fruit plants, because if it rains, they may die.

Some summer residents also advise using drugs such as Roundup or Tornado. But they are more effective against flowering weeds, but with their help it will be possible to cope with spore plants only partially: horsetail will soon appear in the garden anyway. In general, Glyphos is the best option.
Is dolomite flour effective?

To prevent horsetail from growing, the soil must be limed with preparations containing calcium. The following lime materials are suitable for this:

dolomite flour;
chalk;
lime;
ash.

Why does the soil need to be limed? This will significantly reduce its acidity, and horsetail is afraid of this like a baby bad dream. Of all the means listed above, it is better to use dolomite flour: it is simply more efficient. True, with the help of flour it will be possible to completely get rid of the weed in 3-4 years. So this is an effective, but rather slow method.

What else you need to know about soil liming:

In the first year, the full dose is applied;
The next 2-3 years - no more than half of the original dose.

The dose size depends on the type of soil. This information is best understood using this small table:

In general, liming is a very effective, but slow way to get rid of horsetail.
Will unwanted proximity to plants that are dangerous to it get rid of horsetail?

Any agronomist knows that horsetail categorically cannot tolerate almost all cruciferous plants. These, for example, include the following:

white mustard;
oilseed and winter rape;
oilseed radish.

In terms of their effectiveness, the plants will be approximately the same, but in the CIS countries it is customary to use oilseed radish. Elementary for the reason that it costs the least. After a person notices the appearance of horsetail, the next year one of the indicated plants should be planted in the same place. Thanks to their unique root system, these plants will simply suppress weeds. This practically guarantees 100% elimination of horsetail.

Cruciferous plants, interestingly, are used not only to combat horsetail, but also simply to “clean” the land for a garden of any weeds. And the soil itself is “resting” (there is an old expression “fallow” - it means the same thing). In general, cruciferous plants are indeed effective remedy fight against horsetail.
How to reduce soil acidity?

It was already indicated above that the plant loves soils with increased acidity. Ordinary lime will help get rid of it. True, this method will not help immediately: the soil must be cultivated for at least six months, but most often the weed completely disappears after about 1.5-2 years. In the first year it is worth adding 2-3 kilograms of lime per 1 m², in the second - 0.75-1 kilograms per 1 m². If, together with the addition of lime, you regularly weed the weeds, then you can definitely forget about horsetail forever.
Interesting Facts

Horsetail is a weed because it sucks many useful minerals from the soil. In particular, it is rich in the following:

Vitamin C;
potassium salts;
saponins;
carotenes;
tannins.

When weeding a garden, it can not be destroyed, but used to treat the most various ailments. Horsetail is brewed like regular tea. It can help with diseases such as:

trophic ulcers, eczema, dermatitis and lichen (including colored ones);
the presence of fistulas on the human body;
gout;
rheumatism;
other diseases.

The list is impressive, isn't it? By the way, it can be found in almost any pharmacy. But if there is a lot of it in the garden, then why not take the opportunity to dry this “tea” for yourself? So, on the one hand, horsetail is a harmful weed, on the other hand, it can be used as an effective folk remedy!

It is interesting that the very name “horsetail” is purely official, botanical. And sometimes people just don’t know what we’re talking about. Therefore, we can remember others, popular names of this plant:

tin grass;
Horse tail;
mop grass;
Panicle;
Cat's tail.

If you ever hear one of these names, then know that we are talking about horsetail. For women, by the way, it will be interesting to know that, in addition to medicinal properties, the weed is also a good cosmetic product. It helps against acne. Moreover, since it contains a lot of calcium, taking a decoction of this plant will promote the growth of beautiful and shiny, strong nails that will not peel.
This weed is so unusual!

Horsetail is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Equisetaceae family, which numbers about thirty various types and is one of the oldest plant crops on our planet. This aggressive and at the same time useful weed consists of a long (about 100 cm) creeping branched rhizome and succulent erect shoots - “fir trees” (30 to 50 cm long) with a spike-shaped inflorescence at the top. This unpretentious and tenacious plant easily tolerates frosty winters and high summer temperatures; it is not afraid of even forest fires. Grass grows on any soil, but feels more favorable on moist soils. forest areas, as well as in meadows, along roads and in vegetable gardens.

Horsetail in the country house, garden or garden is serious problem and cause for concern. The weed reproduces by spores and rhizomes, so it spreads easily and very quickly over a vast area and significantly reduces the quantity and quality of the expected harvest. Its main nutrition is such useful components as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The root system of weeds absorbs all these useful material from the soil, leaving garden crops without feeding. Vegetable plants stop their full development and growth.

Popular species in our country are “Meadow” and “Bolotny” horsetail, and in the dachas of the Moscow region you can most often find “Polevoy” (or “Ordinary”) horsetail. There are many people different names this weed- swamp column, cat's tail, pusher, earthen cone, field tree, ponytail, panicle and many others.

The main feature of horsetail is the ability of its reproductive organs long time maintain their vitality and survivability due to their deep burial in the soil. When adjacent to other weeds (for example, fescue and wheatgrass), horsetail can form real dense thickets that are not afraid of drought or excess moisture, sun or shade. To get rid of this culture completely will require a lot of effort and patience, as well as a comprehensive, timely and systematic approach.

Ways to control weeds

Since the weed culture feels more favorable on wet soils, then one of the measures to combat it is to drain the waterlogged area.

Covering areas with horsetail thickets and row spacing with dense, light-proof material (for example, black plastic film or pieces of plywood) also leads to good results. Herbaceous crops do not have access to light, heat under cover it simply burns them out - all this ultimately leads to the death of most of the weeds.

Mulching beds performs two functions at once - it protects against weeds and feeds the soil. It is recommended to use crushed tree bark or shavings, spruce or pine needles, small tree branches, dry grass, straw and even small river pebbles as mulch. First you need to lay out geotextiles or spunbond, and on top of it a layer of 5 - 7 cm of mulch. Such an obstacle is too tough for the horsetail.

After harvesting vegetables, you can prepare the area for the next season by sowing it with any plants from the Cruciferous family. The roots of crops such as mustard, radish or rapeseed secrete substances that many weeds, including horsetail, do not like. In such a neighborhood weeds don't grow.

There is another simple, proven method. Need to dig deep land plot, simultaneously carefully selecting all the roots perennial plants, and then add a large amount to the soil wood ash. You can replace deep tillage with soil deoxidation by adding slaked lime or dolomite flour.

Tillage of soil with weeds gives good efficiency chemicals"Zenkor", "Agrokiller", "Prima", "Hurricane", "Roundup" and "Glyphos".

Special tools will help reduce the amount of horsetail in your dacha or garden many times over. preventive actions for weed control. The most popular are repeated liming of the soil (over 2–3 years) and maintaining a stable level of soil acidity. For each square meter soil will require from 500g to 2kg of lime. If you add regular weeding to this, then gradually their number will become minimal.

Is there any benefit from it?

Horsetail is used in official and folk medicine in dry and fresh, in tinctures and ointments, decoctions and teas, in the form of compresses and powders, lotions and baths.

The herb is used in cooking, cosmetology and as a “medicine” in floriculture.

Cat's eye, mop grass, broom, tin grass, horse tail... All these wonderful and very extraordinary names belong to such a plant as horsetail. Medications, produced on the basis of tin herb, can effectively combat diseases such as cholelithiasis, diarrhea, eczema, dermatitis, trophic ulcers, lichen and other ailments. However, there is another side to this herbaceous plant. Horsetail is a garden weed, and difficult to remove.

Horsetail can get into the garden along with the applied soil. For example, this plant loves to settle on developed peatlands, from where soil is often brought for garden plantings. Before adding soil to your plot, you need to make sure that horsetail rhizomes are not “hidden” in it. Calculating them is not so easy; to do this, you need to carefully sort through most of the soil.

It can be quite difficult to find signs of horsetail during the annual digging of the site (both spring and autumn). The fact is that root system of this plant can lie at a depth of forty to sixty centimeters. Unfortunately, with the help of a shovel, it is simply impossible to reach the rhizomes, so this weed continues to live and develop quietly in the garden plot. To avoid its spread, you need to learn how to properly, and most importantly, deal with this plant in a timely and effective manner.

Methods for controlling horsetail

1. Chemicals

Horsetail belongs to herbaceous plants, which do not have flowers, but reproduce by spores. To destroy it, drugs such as Glyphos are suitable. This aqueous solution is used to destroy annual and perennial weeds. Belonging to class IV hazardous substances Glyphos does not harm beneficial insects (such as bees). The action of the drug is aimed at blocking the synthesis of aromatic amino acids occurring in horsetail. The consequence of this is the gradual death and then death of the plant.

It is preferable to apply glyphos and other herbicides in the evening. It will be simply wonderful if the weather on this day is calm and windless. During processing, the gardener should protect his hands with rubber gloves. Do not spray during or after rain, or during periods of drought.

2. Undesirable neighborhood

There are plants that horsetail does not tolerate. These include almost all representatives of the Cruciferous family: oilseed radish, winter rape, white mustard and others. In those places personal plot where the appearance of horsetail was noticed, next year you need to plant any of the cruciferous plants. The fact is that the root secretions of radish, rapeseed and other crops can suppress weeds. Such a neighborhood will lead to almost one hundred percent death of horsetail.

3. Reducing soil acidity

As you know, horsetail prefers to grow in soils with high acidity. Therefore, this indicator needs to be gradually reduced. By the way, the process of reducing acidity is a long one, it can take from six months to several years. In order not to act blindly, it is preferable to initially calculate the general acidity of the soils on the site. Lime should be added to the soil over several years. Calculation: two - three kilograms of lime per square meter in the first year and five hundred grams in the second - third year. If the procedure for reducing acidity is combined with regular weeding, then in a couple of years there will be no trace of horsetail in the garden.

In the fight against a weed such as horsetail, the main thing is to carry out work on an ongoing basis. Under no circumstances should you leave your garden unprepared after harvesting. The soil should be carefully dug up, and when the first shoots of horsetail appear, they should be destroyed immediately. Comprehensive measures will allow the gardener to forget about the weed plant for a long time!