Horsetail: An Invasive Weed
Many gardeners are aware of the invasive nature of Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and how rapidly it spreads. It is, however, commonly overlooked by delevopers and builders due to being small, green and lacking flowers. Unlike Giant hogweed or Japanese knotweed, its menace is subtle. As a result, it is can often be found growing through pavements or emerging from beneath buildings, considered as nothing more than a little weed. By failing to realise that Horsetail poses a threat to structures in a similar way to Japanese knotweed, exploiting any areas of weakness, it can add additional costs to development projects as well as adding additional time whilst weed removal takes place.
Not only is this invasive weed a nuisance to people, it can kill livestock if they eat it because it contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and thiaminase, causing thiamine deficiency as well as Bovine Liver disease (click here for more info).
Horsetail can spread through wind dispersal of its spores, by it using its rhizome network or regeneration from rhizome fragments.
Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd offers a range of treatment options to eradicate Horsetail.
If you need assistance with identifying Horsetail or any other invasive weeds (Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.) or if you require weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.
IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.
