Buffalo Horticulture

A Spring Heads-Up

As the season is waking up— so is poison ivy.

Look for clusters of three leaves, often reddish when young or shiny green as they mature. It can creep along the ground or climb trees.

A little awareness goes a long way this time of year.

Horsetail (Equisetum) is a "living fossil" that has remained largely unchanged for over 300 million years, once growing as tall as 100-foot trees during the dinosaur era. It is notoriously difficult to eradicate because its waxy stems resist herbicides and its root system can reach depths of 6 feet.

Fascinating Facts about Horsetail

No Flowers or Seeds: As a relative of ferns, it reproduces via spores released from cone-like structures in early spring.

Biological Multiplier: Even a tiny fragment of a root left in the ground can grow into a new plant, making tilling one of the worst ways to manage it.

Strategies to Get Rid of Horsetail:

Eradication is a multi-year process. You must be more persistent than the plant.

Improve Soil Conditions:

Horsetail thrives in acidic, wet, and compacted soil. Improve drainage to eliminate standing water. Raise the pH by adding agricultural lime to make the soil more alkaline. Boost nutrients with organic compost to encourage competing plants.

Deplete Energy Reserves:

Consistent Pulling/Mowing: Snap off green shoots as soon as they appear. This forces the plant to use up energy stored in its deep roots. Remove spore cones in early Spring. Starving of light and smothering can also help deplete this w**ds energy reserves.

Targeted Herbicides: Products containing Halosulfuron-methyl (like SedgeHammer) or mixtures with 2,4-D and Triclopyr are often more effective than standard glReserves.

Have you successfully gotten rid of your Horsetail?

**dsofthenortheast