Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager, Amenity & Invasive Weeds, at Environment Controls.
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Horsetail: Why this persistent weed is becoming a growing concern for homeowners and developers
In this article experts explain why horsetail is a growing concern and why property owners attempting to remove horsetail themselves find it returns stronger than before. This post will help homeowners, commercial businesses and construction to understand why horsetail is so difficult to eradicate and why professional treatment is often required and can save significant time, money, and frustration. Discover how Environment Controls has developed a unique tank mix formulation mix that allows greater control of horsetail on hard standing areas where approval of dedicated horsetail products are not authorised or are able to be applied via a knapsack.
What is horsetail?
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a deep-rooted perennial weed that has existed for millions of years. It spreads through an extensive underground rhizome network that can penetrate several metres below ground level. It’s often mistakenly referred to (or searched for) as ‘marestail’ – however this is a completely different marginal aquatic species (Hippuris vulgaris). In this article we’re exploring horsetail.
Its appearance changes rapidly throughout the growing season and is most recognisable in summer by its hollow stems and fern-like appearance. In spring however it looks very different as its cone-like shoots appear.
Horsetail thrives in gardens, lawns, borders, construction sites, wasteland, commercial landscapes, and disturbed ground.
Why is horsetail such a problem?
Horsetail is becoming an increasingly common problem across the UK. Found in residential gardens, commercial land, development sites, and infrastructure corridors, this highly persistent weed is notoriously difficult to control and can quickly become a long-term management issue if left untreated.
Unlike many common weeds, horsetail cannot simply be pulled out or dug up successfully. The visible growth above ground is only a small fraction of the plant. What lies below ground is the real problem.
The underground rhizome system:
- Can extend several metres deep.
- Produces new shoots from small fragments.
- Spreads laterally across properties and site boundaries.
- Survives many DIY treatment attempts.
This means, much like knotweed and bamboo – even small infestations can rapidly expand if not managed correctly.
Horsetail on residential properties
For homeowners, horsetail can quickly take over flower beds, lawns, driveways, and garden borders, often causing damage as it expands into cracks.
Many people search:
- “How do I get rid of horsetail in my garden?”
- “Will horsetail damage my property?”
- “Can I kill horsetail permanently?”
Unfortunately, repeated cutting, digging, or pulling often makes the problem worse. Disturbing the root system can encourage further spread and create multiple new growth points.
The result is often:
- Persistent regrowth.
- Increased treatment costs.
- Reduced garden usability.
- Potential disputes where growth spreads to neighbouring properties.
Professional horsetail treatment programmes are designed to weaken the underground rhizome network over time, delivering far more effective long-term control.
Horsetail on construction and development sites
For developers and construction contractors, horsetail presents a different challenge. Whilst horsetail is not regulated in the same way as Japanese knotweed, significant infestations can still create problems during site preparation and construction activities. Failing to remove horsetail on development sites will lead to infestations on new properties.
Issues can include:
- Delays to groundworks.
- Increased vegetation clearance costs.
- Ongoing maintenance requirements.
- Difficulties achieving site handover standards.
- Spread across development plots and landscaped areas.
Where horsetail is identified during site investigations or enabling works, a professional management strategy can help prevent future problems and support successful project delivery.
more on horsetail removal for construction
Why DIY horsetail removal fails
One of the biggest misconceptions is that horsetail can be permanently removed using standard weed killers or simple excavation.
DIY attempts frequently fail because:
- Digging rarely removes the entire root system. The rhizomes can extend several metres below ground level. Even small fragments left behind can regenerate.
- Cutting encourages regrowth. Repeated cutting may suppress visible growth temporarily but rarely eliminates the infestation, and repeat infestations will occur yearly.
- Store-bought weed killers have limited effectiveness. Many off-the-shelf products struggle to penetrate the waxy surface of horsetail stems, reducing herbicide uptake.
- Improper treatment can increase costs. Failed DIY attempts often allow infestations to spread further, resulting in larger treatment programmes being required later.
Benefits of professional horsetail removal
Professional contractors understand the biology of horsetail and use specialist treatment techniques designed specifically for this resilient species.
Benefits include:
- Accurate identification: Not all invasive-looking plants are horsetail – as mentioned it is often mistakenly referred to as marestail which is a different species. Correct identification ensures the most effective treatment plan for horsetail is implemented.
- Specialist herbicide programmes: Professional-grade herbicide treatments can significantly improve control compared to DIY approaches. Whilst there are ‘off the shelf’ herbicides such as glyphosate that many people will try, it will only be effective if you know how and when to use it, and due to horsetail’s minimal leaf area and the leaves waterproof silica makeup, not enough glyphosate can enter the plant to help control it.
- Long-term management plans: Successful horsetail control often requires a planned programme rather than a one-off treatment.
- Site-specific solutions: Different approaches may be required depending on whether the infestation is located in a residential garden, commercial property, development site, rail corridor, utility asset, or public space.
- Reduced risk of reinfestation: Professional treatment targets both visible growth and the underlying rhizome network to achieve sustainable results.
Early action is key
Like many invasive and persistent weeds, horsetail becomes more difficult and expensive to manage the longer it is left untreated.
Early intervention can:
- Reduce treatment costs.
- Prevent spread across the site.
- Improve treatment success rates.
- Protect property value and usability.
- Minimise disruption to development programmes.
Advanced horsetail treatment for hard standing areas
One of the biggest challenges when treating horsetail is controlling infestations growing through hard standing areas such as car parks, pavements, industrial yards, pathways, driveways, and construction compounds. These locations often restrict the use of certain dedicated horsetail herbicides due to application approvals, site-specific constraints, or operational requirements.
To address this challenge, we have developed a specialist herbicide formulation mix that provides enhanced horsetail control in hard standing environments where traditional treatment options may not be authorised or practical to apply via conventional knapsack spraying methods.
Our tailored approach (unique to Environment Controls) enables more effective treatment of established horsetail growth emerging through cracks, joints, and surface defects, helping to reduce regrowth and improve long-term control. This solution is particularly beneficial for commercial premises, local authorities, property managers, infrastructure operators, and development sites where maintaining safe and weed-free hard surfaces is essential.
Combined with our professional assessment and ongoing management programmes, this advanced treatment option allows us to deliver effective horsetail control in areas that are often difficult to treat using standard methods alone.
Whether you’re a homeowner concerned about horsetail spreading through your garden or a developer managing a site affected by horsetail, professional advice can make all the difference. A tailored horsetail treatment programme such as this will control existing infestations, prevent further spread, and provide a long-term solution.
Find out more
We can correctly identify horsetail for you, simply use our online ID tool.
If you’ve identified horsetail or marestail on your property, contact our specialist team for a professional assessment and bespoke treatment recommendation. We provide effective horsetail control and removal services for homeowners, businesses, developers, and landowners across the UK.