Horsetail / Mare's tail FAQs
Here are some of your top frequently asked questions, on the weed horsetail, answered.
What is horsetail/mare’s tail?
Horsetail is an easily recognised weed which in its early stage of growth looks like small asparagus spears which then develop fir tree like fronds which appears throughout summer. It can reach between 20-60cm tall and can spread rapidly through its creeping rhizomes and spores.
Is horsetail the same thing as mare’s tail?
Horsetail and mare’s tail is the same weed. The name "horsetail" is derived from the Latin Equisetum which translates as equus, meaning horse and seta which means bristle or hair. Its full name is Equisetum arvense which translates to Field Horsetail.
What is the best weed killer for mare’s tail?
Use of herbicides such as the total weed killer Kurtail Evo or the selective weed killer SBK Brushwood Killer have been found to be most effective for mare’s tail. For more information on how these work, please see our How to kill mare’s tail and horsetail by problem page.
How do I stop marestail /horsetail Spores from spreading
As the most effective way to control mare’s tail is when it is actively growing and at a 20 – 60 cm height with a herbicide such as Kurtail Evo (total weed killer), or SBK Brushwood Killer (grass safe) it is not recommended to cut of the spore heads. However there are products available such as Amvista Spore Stop which work as a physical barrier & sticker to stop the spores from being spread on the wind.
Is mare’s tail poisonous?
Mare’s tail is a poisonous weed if it is consumed raw due to the heavy content of silica. Grazing animals would usually avoid eating horsetail however as it dies back it does become more palatable. For this reason it is important to keep grazing animals away whilst the plant dies off when it has been treated with weed killer.
How do you stop horsetail from spreading?
If the horsetail was growing in your lawn, mowing the grass will keep the plant down and stop it from gaining height at that moment however, due to their extensive root systems it will not stop the weed from spreading. The only way to stop the weed from spreading is to kill it using either SBK Brushwood Killer or Kurtail Evo.
For more information on this, check out our How to Remove Horsetail Weeds Step-By-Step Guide.
How do you get rid of mare’s tail in a garden lawn?
In order to kill the mare’s tail plant in a lawn you would need to use the selective weed killer SBK Brushwood as this kills the weed but not the surrounding grass.
To find out more about the horsetail/mare’s tail weed, take a look at our How to control horsetail / mare’s tail by problem page.
frequently asked questions
