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Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) is a very primitive plant with dark-green, hollow, jointed stems with no true leaves. Stems may be singular or have whorls of branches, but only single stems produce the cone-shaped spore producing body at the tip. Horsetail stems contain silica crystals (i.e. sand) embedded in their tissue. This gritty texture gives it a common name of “scouring rush”.
Mechanical Options
Horsetail can be cut and removed from the pond.
Information on Mechanical Treatment of Aquatic Vegetation
Biological Options
There are no biological options for controlling horsetail.
Chemical Options
The active ingredients that have been successful in treating horsetail include: Diquat (G) and Glyphosphate (G). E = excellent, G = good
Information on Chemical Treatment of Aquatic Vegetation
Return to the emergent vegetation page