How to tell if you have a horsetail problem

Horsetail, sometimes known as mare’s tail, is a common weed throughout the UK and can be extremely difficult to gain control of. It grows well in areas such as waste-ground, gardens and non-cropped areas meaning that it can pop up in the majority of spaces. 

How to recognise horsetail?

Having very recognisable features, horsetail is fairly easy to spot. The plant itself has two different growth stages which starts during early spring. At this point the plant sends up light brown stems that can resemble the look of asparagus. This structure has a cone-like tip that produces spores allowing the horsetail to spread even further.

During the summer months, the plant matures changing into a structure that looks similar to a small fir / Christmas tree type plant with the ability to grow up to 60cm tall. 

Here are some examples of what horsetail looks like at both of these stages:

When do I know that there is a horsetail problem?

If you have found even one horsetail plant growing then there is enough of a problem to start looking in to control options. Horsetail can spread easily through either its root system or its spore releasing plant structure. As a result if you have found one plant, another is likely to grow if it is not dealt with. 

Control Methods

There are a few different products that can be used for controlling horsetail. Kurtail Evo is the market leading, professional use product for horsetail control providing the results that people are looking for within a few seasons applications. We also have a product that is suitable for non-professional users who have horsetail growing in their garden called SBK Brushwood Killer. 

For further information on how to control horsetail and use the above mentioned products, take a look at our how to guide here