Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager, Amenity & Invasive Weeds, at Environment Controls.
Last reviewed on .
Effective removal of Horsetail (equisteum) primarily uses a combination of mechanical removal and specialist herbicide treatments.
Professional contractors such as Environment Controls typically use one or several powerful herbicides containing active ingredients like glyphosate.
These herbicides are applied in specific formulations and concentrations suitable for professional use, often with targeted application methods such as spraying or treatment of affected areas, usually during active growth periods for best results.
How is Horsetail removed?
In general the process involves:
- Regularly cutting back visible shoots to reduce photosynthesis energy to the roots.
- Removing underground stem networks.
- Applying systemic herbicides that penetrate the deep rhizome system; this often requires multiple treatments over growing seasons.
- Timing herbicide applications to when the plant is actively growing, sometimes after cutting back to improve absorption.
- Avoiding excessive soil disturbance to prevent stimulating new growth.
- Using soil barriers and conducting ongoing monitoring to detect and treat regrowth early.
- In larger infestations, especially in construction or wasteland, excavation may be used to remove extensive rhizomes completely.
An integrated approach
These methods are combined into a long-term management plan because Horsetail is highly persistent and difficult to eradicate. We offer tailored treatment plans depending on the infestation size and site conditions, and specialist advice from our in-house invasive plant experts.
Why is Horsetail difficult to remove?
Horsetail is difficult to remove due to several key reasons:
- Deep and extensive rhizome network: Horsetail spreads through underground stems called rhizomes that can go several feet deep and spread widely. Even small fragments left in the soil can regenerate new plants, making physical removal extremely challenging.
- Resistance to herbicides: Horsetail has a waxy surface that repels many common herbicides, reducing their effectiveness. This means treatments often require professional-grade herbicides, repeated applications, and precise timing to succeed. The experts at Environment Controls have developed a system that uses a unique mix of herbicides to overcome this challenge.
- Rapid regrowth and persistence: Horsetail grows quickly and can reappear even after initial clearance if not consistently managed over time. It can penetrate hard surfaces and compact soil, causing regrowth problems in gardens, construction sites, and landscapes.
- Adaptation to poor soil conditions: It thrives in compacted, poorly drained, and acidic soils, where many other plants struggle. This adaptability lets Horsetail colonise difficult growing environments and outcompete other vegetation.
- Difficulty in complete excavation: On construction or large sites, removing all horsetail rhizomes can require expensive excavation and soil disposal, which is often impractical or costly. Incomplete removal risks resurgence.
In general, Horsetail removal usually requires a long-term, integrated approach often that combines physical removal, a specialist herbicide mix and vigilant monitoring after treatment or removal to limit risk of regrowth occurring.
Can I remove it myself?
DIY removal is possible but challenging, time-consuming, and less certain than professional removal, which combines excavation and expert herbicide treatments tailored to the infestation size and location.
Attempting to remove Horsetail yourself is difficult and requires digging deeply to remove underground rhizomes and regularly cutting or pulling new shoots to prevent photosynthesis and weaken the plant. However, Horsetail roots are very tough and (as already mentioned) any small root fragments left behind can regrow, so incomplete removal can make the problem worse or spread it further. In general, if you don’t know what to look for you’ll most likely be leaving some of the plant behind and the problem will not go away. Always call in the experts.
Next steps
If you have (or suspect you have) Horsetail let us advise you on the best way to treat or remove it, and we’ll provide a quote to get rid of it for good. Speak to the team.