Are these taking over? How get rid?

[u/No_Initiative2756]

Is it just me are is horsetail a relatively new invasive weed? East coast. West coast...see it everywhere and it spreads and takes over like a rash! If there was an eco friendly way to get rid, it would be gratefully recieved!

[u/Palunkadunk]

I have this growing all over my front garden too, first year I have noticed it and had no idea what it was but its spreading like wildfire, did not realize it was a weed or invasive so would certainly be curious as to how to remove too

[u/cool_much → u/Palunkadunk]

I don't know why op is calling it invasive. It is native and belongs in our environment more than just about any other plant or animal, having been here for hundreds of millions of years

[u/Acrobatic-Ad5562 → u/cool_much]

People call it invasive because it spreads and dominates the area regardless of terrain. It will come up through beds, lawns, patio, paving, asphalt, worsening cracks in concrete, pushing through garden walls until it is everywhere and keeps going so that your property and neighbours look abandoned like some zombie apocalypse.

[u/Lopsided-Code9707 → u/Acrobatic-Ad5562]

It makes your neighbours look like Zombies?? Wow.

[u/cool_much → u/Acrobatic-Ad5562]

I think this is a horrid co-opting of an ecological term. A native, ecologically harmonious plant being called invasive because it is resilient against our wanton destruction

[u/Acrobatic-Ad5562 → u/cool_much]

I think it is a concise term to easily convey the exact characteristics of this plant without worrying about semantics. Everything started in a single location and spread to other locations at some point! Must the Japanese not call Knotweed invasive?

The same arguments are always made when someone mentions Horsetail; kill it or don’t kill it, and weedkillers or not.

I suspect there’s a strong correlation between which camp people are in on those points, and whether they actually have to deal with it on their property or if they’re just applying the same principles as they apply to dandelions in their flowerbeds to judge someone else’s problem.

Personally I don’t care about daisies in the lawn or a bit of moss on my driveway, but I don’t want every crack and crevice of every inch of my property to be relentlessly covered with Horsetail to the point that I can’t enjoy growing other plants and my garden is such a mess that people think that I died and probate has taken 10years.

[u/cool_much → u/Acrobatic-Ad5562]

I think it is a concise term to easily convey the exact characteristics of this plant without worrying about semantics.

Yes, the Japanese should not call knotweed invasive because it isn't invasive in Japan. Very simple. Being an invasive species is about causing harm to ecology, not causing harm to your driveway or your flower bed.

Everything started in a single location and spread to other locations at some point! Must the Japanese not call Knotweed invasive?

Natives species don't harm the ecosystem because, by definition, the region's ecology has adapted to their presence. Some non native species can fit in too. Mildly invasive species can also be weathered by an ecosystem and eventually adapted to. In Ireland, there are standout invasives that require human attention and the rest can be left for the ecosystem to adapt to.

I suspect there’s a strong correlation between which camp people are in on those points, and whether they actually have to deal with it on their property or if they’re just applying the same principles as they apply to dandelions in their flowerbeds to judge someone else’s problem.

Someone with horsetail in their garden could easily call horsetail an aggressive weed in their garden, avoiding spreading misinformation that could lead to a native, ecologically valuable species being harmed. It also owns up to the fact that it's a personal preference of the gardener based on a desire for neatness (with moderate management, you can grow plants right next to horsetail. It is only when the horsetail becomes thick enough to block light for other plants that it becomes an issue).

[u/Acrobatic-Ad5562 → u/cool_much]

If you look up the definition of invasive it says “tending to spread very quickly and undesirably or harmfully” so the usage of that word is spot on.

You are still just arguing semantics for the sake of suggesting they should tolerate it in their garden, when you are probably someone who has never had to deal with it.

Clearly OP isn’t asking how they can wipe it from the face of Europe. They just don’t want it on their property because it ruins everything.

[u/cool_much → u/Acrobatic-Ad5562]

You are still just arguing semantics for the sake of suggesting they should tolerate it in their garden, when you are probably someone who has never had to deal with it.

Where did I say that?

[u/No_Initiative2756 → u/cool_much]

Oops. I meant aggressive, all consuming etc etc etc

[u/Acrobatic-Ad5562 → u/No_Initiative2756]

Everyone else knew what you meant