Bindweed horsetail marestail - Weeds in tarmac drive

[DazBeard]

Hi, had my drive tarmacced by local drive specialist last year. Within weeks the drive was a mass of weeds identified as bindweed/horsetail/marestail. Looking on the internet this is a nightmare to eradicate! Got the drive specialist back who opted to brick pave the worst area. This year the weed appears to have come back with a vengence. Once it has appeared, the damage has been done as the weed pushes large clumps of tarmac up. The block paved area has had no growth this year. I have contacted the drive specialist again who says I should apply weedkiller, and he will re-top the drive. Im not happy that this will resolve the situation and think I will have the same problem next year. As my quote stated he would prepare the area, is it up to me to kill the weed or the contractor? The contractor has stated he has had this problem locally, so I feel he should have been more thorough in the ground prep or advised me before starting.

[Dave_L]

Only way to sort this is to dig up the affected area(s), remove contaminated sub-base and sub-grade as necessary and start over.

I know, we've had to do it to our cost.

[dig dug dan]

there is no chemical application available that kills mares tail
although i have heard that creosote works, but it poisosns the ground.
could be worse. it could be japanese knotweed!



Edited By dig dug dan on 1214729481

[Mikey_C]

take a look at this thread it seems to offer good advice, if the original poster had re posted the results we would have known for sure.

[DazBeard]

Thanks Guys. Guessing that essentially it is the contractors responsibility as he should have ensured the ground was weed free before carry out the work. Just dont want to seem unreasonable as I can see this is a troublesome weed and I know the contractor has done numerous drives with no problems. Just unfortunate that my drive is now greener than when it started.
I will get back onto contractor and keep this board updated.

Thanks again

[Tony McC]

This is a case where a geo-textile should have been installed as a weed barrier!

We had good results using Terram 100 beneath both bitmac and CBP driveways where equisetum spp. had previously been a major problem. The damned weeds couldn't penetrate the terram, but did travel beneath it, horizontally, to emerge at the edges. Where this was in a lawn, regular mowing put paid to the problem, but at hard edges, against walls and the like, the emerging fronds were restricted to the pavement-wall interface joint and therefore much easier to control than fronds emerging here, there and everywhere.

It should be noted that we always used a reputable geo-textile with a high puncture resistance. The shite sold as weed barrier membrane would NOT be man enough to withstand equisetum spp.

[acechadwick]

I have the same problem. 4k for driveway in March from reputable company but now have Vesuvius type eruptions all over drive with damned horsetail popping through. This is my plan of attack.
Phase 1 A 2 weekly application of sodium chlorate (I don't care what it says on the packet)
Phase 2 ROUND UP in between which is a systemic weed killer
Phase 3 Driveway cleaner which contains hydrochloric acid.
Phase 4 A bi weekly soaking of vinegar and salt mixture which it hates
Phase 5 A blow torch
Phase 5 A knife (to slit my wrists if the above fails) 4k??? 3 months???

Whispers quietly so enviromentalists get all uppity....it hates diesel...makes it go all shrivelly... but no good for tarmac

How can anything be so bloody tenacious.
I cannot...nay will not believe there is not a solution. Watch this space!!! IT'S WAR!!!!

[acechadwick]

Oh and if one more person says cheerily "Horsetail? You'll never get rid of that. Did you know it's Jurassic"?

[Dave_L]

Could we have some pictures of the aforementioned war-zone, Ace?

[DazBeard]

Dave L, not too sure how to add pics on here so sent one to your e-mail. Difficult to show whole drive as most of the weed only grows to about 3 or 4 inches before it is crushed or sprayed with round-up 3000. Round up seems to kill the weed at the surface, but a bit of sun and its back. Acechadwick, have you approached your reputable company to see if they will put right your drive? Would think they are obliged to rectify the problem....although my contractor is expecting me to kill the weed and he will replace surface layer! This just seems like a waste of time as I know full well if the weed doesnt show again this year, it will appear again in the summer.

[Dave_L]

Daz - you have a reply.

I'll post your picture to this thread later.

[acechadwick]

Dave L I will attempt to upload photos but it may take some time.
And yes Daz B I have tried to contact my contractor. They are a well established in Wirral with an excellent reputation but although I have left messages so far no response. A strongly worded letter is flying off as we speak.

[islander]

Dave L I will attempt to upload photos but it may take some time.
And yes Daz B I have tried to contact my contractor. They are a well established in Wirral with an excellent reputation but although I have left messages so far no response. A strongly worded letter is flying off as we speak.

The problem with Equisetum species is that the rhizome it grows from can be up to 2m deep which makes it almost impossible to eradicate completely. Weed barriers will be effective for a time, but then the rhizome will spread beyond the barrier and plant growth will reappear. The leaves have a waxy cuticle that resists the uptake of systemic weedkillers as well.

The best way to deal with them is to trample the plants to break the leaves, then spray with a glyphosate based weedkiller. You will have to repeat this over and over on regrowth before you see any meaningful results.

Good luck

By the way, it's older than Jurassic, it's Carboniferous

[acechadwick]

Oh Carboniferous? Well I shall put the Jurassic group right in their place!!
I am in danger of becoming an Equisetum bore.
I was heard today telling a neighbour and sounding like some ancient yokel "Never let it see a Sunday" which was old gardener speak for; the moment it sticks its spiky little head above the parapet pull it out. The theory being that its roots eventually weaken through lack of nourishment and it gives up.
I am now to be seen diving at the ground at odd moments when I spot it.
Also after beating the crap out of it, if you mix the weed killer with washing up liquid it adheres better to do its job.

Oh who are we kidding??? We're doomed...doomed I tell you!!

[DazBeard]

Looks like its taking over the world!!!! Like everything else blame it global warming. All I wanted was a nice drive!:(