Another "what's this"?

Hi again everyone. It's another identification question I'm afraid but this time it's a weed not a flower I think. It grows everywhere no matter much I pull it up! Any ideas as to what it is and how to stop it??
Thanks again
John

 

Mare's Tail. Equisetum sp. When you got it, you got it. Nothing much can kill it and the roots go down forever. I followed one down over 3 metres in our previous garden.
Try bruising the 'leaves' and stems with a stick then spray with Roundup type weedkiller.

 

Thanks that's really helpful. I suspected it may be a little difficult to get rid of as it's so prolific! Great advice thank you.

 

Another important thing - don't compost what you pull out. It can re-grow from each segment.

If you are persistent, and patient, you can stop its spread, and even "push it back". In the spring, when the young shoots are coming up, and the ground is soft... place your fingers on either side at the base of the asparagus-like shoot, and pull straight up. This will break it off below the ground. Repeat through the season, ideally when it is no more than 6-10" high. It does weaken the plant, and over a number of years, you will claim a little control back. (I don't do any weed killers, so had to find another way on a steep bank infested with this weed)

 

Mares tail must be virtually impossible to completely remove . Best you can do is control it as suggested above. As Sian suggests , keep picking the shoots as they come through . This must weaken the plant . Also as Palustris , I have some coming through a tarmac pavement outside the house . I lightly crush it with my heel , then spray with glyphosate type weedkiller . This does keep it in control , but the little b*gg*r still keeps growing back

 

By doing what Sian suggests I did manage to get rid of a tiny patch at our previous house, but it was tiny and it took over 5 years of removing every shoot which appeared on a daily basis.