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Horsetail Guide

Identify

Inspect

Treat

Prevent

How to Identify Horsetail Weeds

What Is Horsetail?

Horsetail, also known as Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), is one of the oldest surviving weed species still challenging gardeners and homeowners today. These tall, feathery-topped perennial weeds have remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years, showcasing remarkable resilience and adaptability that ensures their presence for generations to come.

The first step in successfully eliminating horsetail is accurate identification. This will help ensure the methods you use to combat this hardy weed are as effective as possible.

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Horsetail Height and Shape

orsetail grows in two distinct forms during its growing season, meaning the appearance of the plant varies depending on when you observe it.

  • Spring Growth:
    In early spring, horsetail emerges as a brown, leafless stalk that stands 8–12 inches tall. These stalks are topped with a spore-bearing cone, resembling the tip of an asparagus stalk. This cone releases spores to germinate new plants, after which the stalk dies off.
  • Summer Growth:
    Later in the season, horsetail produces taller, hollow-stemmed stalks with a feathery, brush-like appearance. These stalks can grow up to two feet high and are known for their abrasive texture, historically used for cleaning.

Horsetail Roots

Horsetail’s rhizome root system is extensive and hardy. The roots can penetrate as deep as six feet underground, depending on soil density, and spread horizontally. This horizontal rhizome growth is the primary way horsetail propagates and spreads across an area.

Horsetail Leaves

Image: Horsetail stalks in their natural habitat.
Only the second, "feathered" form of horsetail features leaves capable of photosynthesis. These green, feathery leaves grow in a triangular, brush-like arrangement, radiating outward from the central stalk.

When Does Horsetail Grow?

  • Early Spring:
    Spore-bearing stalks emerge first, distributing spores for germination. These asparagus-like stalks die off shortly after shedding their spores.
  • Summer Months:
    The second form of horsetail stalk appears during summer. These taller, green stalks remain viable throughout the warm months until the first frost later in the year.

Discovered horsetail weeds on your property? Learn how to manage and eliminate them in the third section of our Horsetail Weed Control Guide.

How to Spot Horsetail Weeds

Where Does Horsetail Grow?

Horsetail, also called field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), is a persistent, invasive perennial weed known for its tall growth and challenging removal once established.

Continue reading to learn what to look for when inspecting your property for signs of horsetail weeds.

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When Can You Spot Horsetail?

Horsetail grows in two distinct forms throughout the year:

  • Early Spring: The spore-bearing stalks emerge to distribute spores. These short, brown stems with cone-shaped tips complete their task and die off shortly after.
  • Summer through Fall: The second form, a taller, green stalk with the characteristic feathery brush, grows during the summer and remains active until the first frost.

Where Does Horsetail Grow?

Horsetail thrives in damp, acidic soils with adequate sunlight. Once established, it can endure drier conditions.

Common locations for horsetail include:

  • Landscape beds around homes and businesses
  • Agricultural fields
  • Wooded areas
  • Roadsides and ditches where water collects

Geographically, horsetail is found in nearly every U.S. state, except for areas along the Gulf Coast like Louisiana and Florida.

Discovered horsetail weeds on your property? Find out how to eliminate them in the next section of our 4-part guide. Click the right arrow below to continue.

How to Control Horsetail Weeds

Best Ways to Kill Horsetail Weeds

Horsetail, or Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), is a resilient, invasive weed that can be challenging to eliminate. With proper lawn care and the use of effective weed control products, you can remove horsetail from your property.

Follow this guide to develop a strategy for tackling horsetail and maintaining a healthy, weed-free lawn.

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Step1 Improve Lawn Conditions

Horsetail thrives in damp, acidic soil and regenerates easily from fragments. Addressing soil and drainage issues in your lawn is a critical first step to discourage horsetail growth.

Tips for Improving Lawn Conditions:

  • Fix drainage problems to eliminate standing water or saturated soil.
  • Raise your soil's pH level to make it less hospitable for horsetail.
  • Apply fertilizer to encourage strong turfgrass growth.
  • Avoid mulching over horsetail, as it thrives in dark, moist environments.

Pro Tip

Avoid pulling or digging up horsetail as a control method—it regenerates easily from broken fragments left in the soil.

Step2 Treat Horsetail in Turf with Selective Herbicides

How to Apply Selective Herbicides:

  1. Choose a product with Halosulfuron-methyl as the active ingredient.
  2. Mix the herbicide with water in a pump sprayer, following label instructions for mix rates and application.
  3. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
  4. Apply the herbicide to horsetail weeds under six inches tall for maximum effectiveness.
  5. Reapply as directed on the product label if further treatments are needed.

Products we recommend for Step 2

Step3 Spot Treat with Glyphosate Herbicide

How to Spot Treat with Glyphosate:

  1. Spray the weeds directly, avoiding contact with desirable plants. Adjust the sprayer nozzle to a narrow setting for precise application.
  2. Consider alternative application methods, such as injecting the herbicide at the base of horsetail stalks, if suggested on the product label.
  3. Wear PPE while mixing and applying the herbicide.
  4. Repeat applications as needed, following label instructions for timing and rates.

Products we recommend for Step 3

Once you've successfully removed horsetail weeds from your lawn, discover how to prevent future infestations by reading our Horsetail Prevention Guide. Click the right arrow below to continue.

How to Keep Horsetail Weeds Away

Prevent Horsetail Weeds with Lawn Care and Herbicides

Horsetail weeds are resilient and challenging to eliminate once their extensive root system has established. To prevent future infestations, it's crucial to prepare your lawn with proper maintenance techniques and consider the use of pre-emergent herbicides. Follow our guide to keep horsetail weeds at bay.

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Step1 Prepare Your Lawn to Resist Horsetail Weeds

Address Drainage Issues:
Horsetail thrives in moist soil. Eliminate standing water by filling low spots and ensuring rainwater drains evenly. Proper drainage reduces the ideal growing conditions for horsetail.

Adjust Soil pH:
Horsetail prefers acidic soil. Adding lime to raise the pH level can make your lawn less hospitable to these weeds.

Promote Healthy Turf Growth:
A dense, well-maintained lawn is a natural defense against horsetail and other weeds. Annual aeration improves soil health by breaking up compaction, allowing grass roots to grow deeper and stronger.

For year-round lawn maintenance tips, visit our Lawn Care Schedule pages for step-by-step guidance.

Pro Tip

Simplify lawn care and weed prevention with our DoMyOwn Turf Box program. Receive premium products tailored to your needs, delivered on a customized schedule.

Step2 Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide Labeled for Horsetail

Select a Pre-Emergent Herbicide:
Pre-emergent herbicides can interrupt weed seed germination. Products with active ingredients like Dichlobenil, such as Casoron, are effective in non-turf areas when applied according to label instructions.

Boost Lawn Defense:
Even if pre-emergent herbicides have limited effectiveness on horsetail, they can prevent other invasive weeds, improving overall lawn health and strengthening defenses against horsetail.

Wear Appropriate PPE:
Always wear gloves, long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes when mixing or applying herbicides.

Timing of Application:
Apply pre-emergent herbicides in spring after the soil thaws but before temperatures exceed 50°F. Warmer temperatures may trigger horsetail spores or rhizomes to germinate. Consult your local extension service for region-specific timing recommendations.

Understand Horsetail Spread:
Horsetail spreads not only through seeds but also via underground rhizomes. While pre-emergents control seed germination, selective post-emergents may be required to address new growth from disturbed rhizomes.

Products we recommend for Step 2

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