Horsetail removalHorsetail & mare's tail under control
Professional invasive plant control at fair, fixed prices.
Horsetail is one of the most stubborn garden weeds there is. Its roots run deep, so we tackle it at the roots, not just the shoots.
- Free in-person survey with a written report and photos
- Fixed price quotation, plus VAT. No hidden fees
- Minimum 5-year guarantee included on every job, available for up to 20 years
- Waste removed by a registered waste carrier
Send us a photo for a free IDBook your free survey
Tell us what you are seeing and add a photo if you can. A surveyor will get back to you.
Professional invasive plant control at fair, fixed prices
Qualified surveyors, proven methods and a written guarantee, at fair, fixed prices plus VAT.
- 👥A lean, owner-led team
- 🏢No national overheads or call centres
- 🎓A qualified surveyor on site
- 🧪Recognised methods, trained people
- 🛡A written guarantee and management plan
What is horsetail?
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), often called mare's tail in gardens, is a native plant that spreads through deep, creeping underground stems. It comes back year after year, even after the top growth has been cleared.
It often comes in with soil or turf and is common in new-build gardens, allotments and borders. Its tough stems shed most weedkillers, so control needs patience and the right approach.
How to recognise it
- Green, jointed stems with whorls of thin, needle-like branches, like a bottlebrush
- Brown, unbranched shoots with cone-like tips in early spring
- Hollow stems that pull apart at the joints
- Spreads in dense patches through borders, lawns and paving
Why it needs dealing with
Early action avoids further spread, damage, stress and cost.
Deep roots
Its underground stems can go much deeper than normal digging reaches, so it keeps coming back.
It pushes through paving
Shoots can come up through gravel, paving joints and tarmac edges.
Hard to treat
Its waxy stems resist most garden weedkillers, so DIY treatment often fails.
How we deal with horsetail
From the free survey to a guaranteed result, in four steps.
Free survey
In person. Plant identified, written report with photos and a fixed price quotation, plus VAT.
Your plan
We combine excavation of the worst areas with a treatment plan and follow-up visits, matched to your site. Where you are planting or landscaping, we can advise on membranes and clean soil.
3The work
Biosecurity measures on site. Waste removed by a registered waste carrier.
4Guarantee & follow-up
Minimum 5-year guarantee included, available for up to 20 years, plus follow-up visits.
Is there a law about it?
Horsetail is not listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so the rules that apply to plants such as Japanese knotweed do not apply in the same way. It still makes sense to dispose of it responsibly. It is a native plant.
What our clients say
Read our reviews:GGoogleTTrustpilotCCheckatrade
He Identified the species and produced a detailed report with photos, all free of charge.
M O · GoogleHighly professional, straightforward & honest. A pleasure to deal with.
Naomi · TrustpilotFrom consultation with Connor to the completion of all work carried out I have experienced only high levels of professionalism and support.
Lesley B. · GoogleGood advice prior to works commencing, kept to agreed timescales, punctual and tidy, helpful and obliging during works.
Quentin C. · TrustpilotA guarantee on every job. Always included.
Minimum 5-year guarantee included on every job, available for up to 20 years. It is part of the price, never an optional extra.
- Guarantee certificate issued when the work is complete
- Management plan evidencing everything done on site
- Monitoring visits until growth has stopped
- Free call-outs if anything comes back in the treated area
- Paperwork you can share with buyers, lenders and neighbours
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers. Anything else, just ask.
Is horsetail the same as mare's tail?
In gardens the names are used for the same plant, field horsetail. True mare's tail is a different, aquatic plant.
Can horsetail be removed completely?
It is persistent, so it usually needs a combination of approaches and follow-up visits. We will explain the options at the free survey.
Is the survey really free?
Yes. We visit in person, identify the species and send you a written report with photos and a fixed price quotation, with no obligation. Formal CSJK (Certified Surveyor of Japanese Knotweed) survey reports, which confirm whether invasive plants are present (for example for a property sale or mortgage), are £240 (£200 + VAT).
Are your prices fixed?
Yes. Quotations are fixed price, plus VAT, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.
Can I just send a photo?
Yes. Add a photo to the enquiry form or send it on WhatsApp and we will identify the plant for free.
How do you keep your prices competitive?
We are a lean, owner-led team with no national overheads or call centres. Your site is surveyed in person by a qualified surveyor, we use recognised methods, and every job comes with a written guarantee and management plan. Every quote is fixed, plus VAT, after a free survey.
Book your free survey
Tell us what you are seeing and add a photo. A surveyor will get back to you with next steps.
- Free in-person survey with a written report and photos
- Fixed price quotation, plus VAT. No hidden fees
- Minimum 5-year guarantee included on every job, available for up to 20 years
Send us a photo for a free IDRequest a free survey
Tell us what you are seeing and add a photo if you can. A surveyor will get back to you.
Request my free survey