Weed ID help please

Nematode · June 15, 2017

Hi,
Anyone know what this is?
Should I let it roam or kill it.
It is displacing grass on a portion of the yard.
Its not terrible to look at.
About 1' tall.
Southern New hampshire

Thx.

oakley · June 15, 2017

Horsetail
Some like it, some don't. Used as a medicinal.
I suppose it could be an invasive if in the wrong spot but in the Catskills
it is all over, though mostly roadside and not a bother.

Spreads underground so you don't want that near the garden.

crankyoldfart · June 15, 2017

Looks like Mare's Tail, aka Horse Tail. I've never had to deal with it, but a quick look on Google suggests it will not be your friend.

Nematode · June 15, 2017

Thanks for the info.
It's in a spot that I don't mind it, but looks like it can be a pain.
Luckily, looks like lime and fertilizer are the cure, which isn't a surprise the soil here is acid and barren.
Nematode

Cole_Robbie · June 15, 2017

My Mare's Tail is a lot different-looking. It must vary by location. Mine has leaves similar to the bottom ones on yours, but it is much taller, 6' or so, and does not have that spiky look on top.

Labradors2 · June 15, 2017

I can't seem to get rid of horsetail in my garden which came in on builder's sand and seems to like our alkaline clay soil. I always understood that it's an indicator of lousy soil, but even in a bed that we augmented with enriched soil last year, it is still sprouting the wretched things. Probably not surprising, as I've heard that their roots can go down for several feet and it can be I'mpossible to get rid of

Cranky is right that it is NOT anyone's friend!

Linda

RayR · June 15, 2017

Equisetum

There are 15 living species, an ancient plant that's been around since before the dinosaurs. Probably the only surviving ancient plants that use silica in macro nutrient quantities.

Cole_Robbie · June 15, 2017

Interesting, Ray.

My horse weed looks like this:

ddsack · June 15, 2017

It's just about impossible to get rid of, grows in anything, sand or clay spreads through roots which are somewhat fragile, so when you pull them, they snap easily and you can never get it all. Mine is like the first picture. I hate it!

greenthumbomaha · June 15, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Interesting, Ray.

My horse weed looks like this:

Our Nebraskan 's Tail looks like this too. I had posted pics of it's early phase in my native perennial thread. A local show produced by the county extension also identified this weed as Mare's Tail. It's all over the place here.

- Lisa

**carolyn137** · June 16, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Equisetum

There are 15 living species, an ancient plant that's been around since before the dinosaurs. Probably the only surviving ancient plants that use silica in macro nutrient quantities.

Bingo on the silica part.

When our Girl Scout troop went on camping trips,a wood fire would be started, a tripod on top of that, and the first large pot to cook food in would be moved to hot coals along the side and another pot would be put up.

Usually we went to Camp Little Notch in upstate NY and yes,that plant grew all over the place there.

So after eating we had black bottomed pots and dishes to clean, and what did we use to scrub them with,yes, Equisetum.

carolyn

June 15, 2017	#9
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,224	It's just about impossible to get rid of, grows in anything, sand or clay spreads through roots which are somewhat fragile, so when you pull them, they snap easily and you can never get it all. Mine is like the first picture. I hate it! __________________ Dee **************

June 15, 2017	#2
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Horsetail Some like it, some don't. Used as a medicinal. I suppose it could be an invasive if in the wrong spot but in the Catskills it is all over, though mostly roadside and not a bother. Spreads underground so you don't want that near the garden.

June 15, 2017	#3
crankyoldfart Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Hopkinton, MA Posts: 26	Looks like Mare's Tail, aka Horse Tail. I've never had to deal with it, but a quick look on Google suggests it will not be your friend.

June 15, 2017	#4
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Thanks for the info. It's in a spot that I don't mind it, but looks like it can be a pain. Luckily, looks like lime and fertilizer are the cure, which isn't a surprise the soil here is acid and barren. Nematode

June 15, 2017	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My Mare's Tail is a lot different-looking. It must vary by location. Mine has leaves similar to the bottom ones on yours, but it is much taller, 6' or so, and does not have that spiky look on top.

June 15, 2017	#6
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,889	I can't seem to get rid of horsetail in my garden which came in on builder's sand and seems to like our alkaline clay soil. I always understood that it's an indicator of lousy soil, but even in a bed that we augmented with enriched soil last year, it is still sprouting the wretched things. Probably not surprising, as I've heard that their roots can go down for several feet and it can be I'mpossible to get rid of Cranky is right that it is NOT anyone's friend! Linda

June 15, 2017	#7
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Equisetum There are 15 living species, an ancient plant that's been around since before the dinosaurs. Probably the only surviving ancient plants that use silica in macro nutrient quantities.