Plant Identification...

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irw

Quadricyclist
Location
Liverpool, UK
Hey folks- I'm helping a friend do up a house that he rents out, and recently these 'things' have fairly quickly popped up in the back lawn...they're a bit freaky looking, kind of remind us of the 'Nemesis' creature at Alton Towers!

Anyone have any idea what they are? There's quite a lot of them whatever they are!
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Justified_Sinner

Well-Known Member
Location
Birmingham
Once they truly pop up they will deserve the epithet "nemesis".
These are horsetails - Equisetum hyemale. They are amazing things but indestructible. They have remained in this form, unevolved for hundreds of millions of years. They isolate silica in their outer cells - to the extent that they used to be used as pan scourers! - and this makes them very, very tough.
They need to be relentlessly dug out over and over - the tiniest fragment will create a new plant. Herbicides won't touch them.
 
Horsetails. 'Orrible things. Been around since the days of the dinosaurs.
They will disappear in a lawn if you mow it regularly. They don't like that.
You "can" get rid of them in a border but it takes a lot of work. Get some glyphosate gel. Paint it on and cover with a plastic bag and elastic band. Repeat weekly. Repeat for a few months and they will go way. But if there are any in next door's garden then they will come back.
Almost indestructible.
 

Andy_R

Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
Location
County Durham
Looking at the colouring and thickness of the stem it looks more like Giant Horsetail - Equisetum telmateia. Just keep on top of the mowing - don't bother using glyphosphate (horrible stuff!)
 
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Justified_Sinner

Well-Known Member
Location
Birmingham
Looking at the colouring and thickness of the stem it looks more like Giant Horsetail - Equisetum telmateia. Just keep on top of the mowing - don't bother using glyphosphate (horrible stuff!)

I think you're right. I had another look. Too brown/amber to be E. hyemale at this time of year.
 

bagpuss

Guru
Location
derby
The plant ,nightmares are made of :evil::evil:.Our allotment plot is infeasted with it ,due to the high water table . Mowing will help as others have said. Called mares tail in my part of Derbyshire .
 
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irw

irw

Quadricyclist
Location
Liverpool, UK
Thanks for all the responses folks- good to know it's nothing sinister. Looks like the lawnmower is going to see a good bit of action I feel!
 

PaulSB

Legendary Member
Completely agree, mowing the lawn will control those in the grass. Any in borders should be carefully removed when you see them. It's true heavy duty chemical treatment will eventually work but myself I think life's too short and I don't want glyphosate in my garden.
 

PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
I've controlled the beast in a number of gardens.

Left to its own devices it tends to rampage if it likes the conditions - so make it unwelcome.

Digging out is not possible - roots go far too deep. But constantly removing any visible growth deprives it of the light all plants need to thrive. Hence mowing lawns tends to control spread there.

In borders, constant vigilance in removing all visible growth can control without killing.

The best solution I've found is a two-pronged physical and chemical attack. Localized glyphosate - painting with gel is best - followed by removing top growth a week later. Continue through growing season on a weekly basis (the gardens in question, I serviced once a week). You won't succeed in killing the beast completely but you do make it less of a problem.
 
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