FIELD HORSETAIL
Equisetum arvense
DESCRIPTION
Originally from Europe, Asia and North America, this has become naturalised in South America, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand. This plant has remained largely unchanged for several hundred million years. It is an erect plant with rhizomes that can often go 2m deep and have small inert tubers on the rhizome, activating when the plant and rhizomes die, producing new plants. The aerial parts die back each year. It has 1-4cm cone-like structures and the fertile tips contain spores. Leaves are long, thin, needle-like branches that whorl and resemble leaves.
DISTRIBUTION
Well established and widespread in the Manawatu but also found in isolated infestations in Wellington, Havelock North, New Plymouth and Kawhia.
HABITAT
Usually found in damp ground, river banks, lake margins and gravelly or sandy soils.
IMPORTANT
Because of the ability to regrow from the rhizome system, it is essential to follow up with a second spray programme once any regrowth or fresh growth has become evident.
HERBICIDE CONTROL
In Pasture
Knapsack Spraying per 15L water
• G-360 GLYPHOSATE – 150ml, or G-540 GLYPHOSATE - 100ml, or Granny Herbicide - 67g
• TRICLO Herbicide - 90-180ml
• GrassMate at 90ml
• Add Superwetter at 15ml/15L
Boom Spray
Rate per Hectare (water / Ha)
• G-360 GLYPHOSATE - 10L (150L), or G-540 GLYPHOSATE – 7L (150L), or Granny Herbicide – 4.5kg (150L)
• TRICLO Herbicide – 10L (300L)
• GrassMate – 10L (300L)
• Add Superwetter – 100ml/100L
In Maize and Cereals
Boom Spray- min. 200L/ha water
• Dicamba 500 Select 1.5L/ha, or
• Nicosulfuron and Chlorsulfuron are also options for control but not products Rainbow & Brown currently handle.
Wasteland and Roadsides
Knapsack Spraying per 15L water
• MSF600 – 7.5g, or
• G-360 GLYPHOSATE – 300ml, or G-540 GLYPHOSATE – 200ml, or Granny Herbicide – 135g
• Add Superwetter – 15ml/15L
GLYPHOSATE products will kill grass and harm clover. GrassMate, TRICLO Herbicide and Rainbow & Brown MCPA750 are pasture safe but will harm or kill clover.
