By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Ceri studied horticulture at university and has spent her career editing gardening content. You shouldn't have favourites but she loves sweet peas!
There are two species of horsetail/marestail, field (Equisetum arvense) and giant horsetail (E. telmateia), whose tendency to take over patches of ground with their impenetrable stems presents a real challenge to gardeners. Horsetails are very deep-rooted, with wiry rhizomes that penetrate to two metres or more and can regenerate from deep down to form new plants. They can persist for years, even if the top growth is suppressed.
Horsetails are very deep-rooted, with wiry rhizomes that penetrate to two metres or more and can regenerate from deep down to form new plants. They can persist for years, even if the top growth is suppressed. There are two species of horsetail, field (Equisetum arvense) and giant horsetail (E. telmateia), whose tendency to take over patches of ground with their impenetrable, jointed, whorled stems presents a real challenge to gardeners
When Which? Gardening magazine trialled different methods for controlling horsetail, we found that spraying with Vitax SBK weedkiller after trampling plants had the most immediate impact, rapidly reducing the number of weeds.
Make your garden better than ever! Our product tests and advice help you create the garden you want, all year for only £36.75 that’s 25% off.
Buy and saveSave 25% – was £49, now £36.75 for a year, offer ends 30 April 2026.
The best chemical-free method for organic gardeners is digging up by the root. You might not be able to get it all, but it will weaken the plant over time. Take care not to leave bits of root behind as they will resprout and could make things worse.
Glyphosate is effective at killing off the top growth, but takes longer than Vitax SBK and digging to have a significant impact on the number of stems, depending on the application method.
The main concern is that glyphosate can cause cancer. A second concern is the negative effect glyphosate use has on bee health. However it is legal to use in the UK.
Burning has a limited effect and becomes trickier as the weeds grow taller through the growing season. Horsetail tends to just regrow after burning treatment.