Horsetail growing through cracks in the concrete on an old army barracks site (Image: Japanese Knotweed Ltd)
Nobody enjoys dealing with a weed infestation in their garden, and there is one plant in particular that is almost impossible to eradicate.
Horsetail weed has spent centuries adapting to varying climates, weather conditions and soil types, and the conventional methods of weed removal simply do not work. That is according to expert gardener Peter Dowdall, who has shared his top tips for tackling horsetail.
He told us it was one of the oldest and “most frustrating plants in gardens” and that it behaves like something that “simply refuses to die”.
“I am asked about it constantly,” Peter, also known as The Irish Gardener, continued. “Every spring and summer, gardeners get in touch with the same question: ‘How do I get rid of it for good?’ The honest answer is simple – you probably do not.”
Speaking about the common mistake people make at this time of year, he revealed: “That is where most people go wrong. The instinct is to fight it. People dig it out, spray it, pour boiling water on it, or try repeated treatments in the hopes it disappears.”
Peter Dowdall (Image: Peter Dowdall)
However, horsetail is unlike most garden weeds, boasting a deep and extensive root system that stretches far beneath the surface, where even the tiniest fragments left behind can regenerate.
According to Peter, the harder you attempt to eliminate it, the more likely you are to actually spread it further. He also remarked that it was “interesting” how gardeners were putting forward a variety of differing responses when it came to horsetail, yet he maintained that there was no “simple single solution”, despite this being far from what most of us wished to hear.
Nevertheless, offering his own guidance, he said: “Some swear by digging it out. Others suggest repeated cutting. Some recommend chemical treatments. But a growing number of people, myself included, take a completely different view and suggest learning to live with it, or even working around it in planting schemes.
“Horsetail thrives in poor, compacted soil with low fertility. Its presence is often a signal rather than just a nuisance. It is telling you something about the conditions in your garden.
Image of invasive field horsetail weed in garden (Image: Getty)
“Improving the soil is the long-term solution. This means increasing organic matter, improving structure, and encouraging stronger planting that can compete naturally. Over time, as conditions improve, horsetail becomes less dominant.
“In the short term, repeated cutting or pulling can help weaken it, but it needs to be done consistently. One-off efforts rarely make a difference.”
Yet Peter believes one aspect is frequently overlooked – the tendency for people to dismiss horsetail as merely a troublesome weed. He argued that it was, in fact, a “remarkable” plant.
He went on to explain how, throughout history, it has served a variety of purposes, including once being widely used for polishing metal and wood owing to its notably high silica content. Some gardeners still produce a form of plant feed or spray from it, believing it helps to fortify other plants in the garden.
Others maintain it can be utilised in herbal remedies and transformed into teas or infusions for its supposed health benefits.
However, Peter cautioned: “It is important to say that these uses are widely discussed but should be approached with caution, particularly without proper knowledge or guidance.”
Field horsetail sprouting (Image: Catherine McQueen via Getty Images)
The expert noted that not everybody views horsetail as something requiring eradication at all costs, explaining how certain gardeners incorporate it into a planting scheme — a far simpler approach than waging an endless battle against it.
Summing up his thoughts, Peter, who has worked on Irish gardens for over 30 years, concluded: “There is also something quietly fascinating about it. A plant that has survived for millions of years, adapting through enormous environmental change, is always going to be resilient.
“So if you are battling horsetail this year, you are not alone. But instead of asking how to kill it, it is often more useful to ask what it is telling you, and how you might work with the conditions that allowed it to take hold.”
For more practical garden advice, see Peter Dowdall’s Garden Q&A
Comments are closed.