Cattail Control Guidelines
Cattail overgrowth is a common concern for people who have ponds. Besides being exceptionally invasive, cattails can be challenging to remove once they get established. These plants can quickly spread by their root systems and seeds. Thus, in only a few years, they can easily take over shallow bodies of water such as ponds. The main primary control methods are chemical management and manual control. If you own a man-made or natural pond, here are some guidelines for getting rid of cattails.
Recognizing Cattails
You first have to recognize cattails. One of their main features is their long grassy stalks that can grow as high as 10 feet tall. Cattails are also known for their dark brown, cigar-shaped flowers (catkins) that form on the ends of their spikes. Their brown seed heads develop in late summer and fall.
Chemical Control
The most common way to manage cattails is by using chemicals. Diquat and glyphosate are the two chemicals that work best. When you apply these chemicals is important. You can apply diquat and glyphosate at any time when cattails are growing and are green. In most cases, you need a multiple applications to be effective. Be sure to use only EPA approved aquatic herbicides, and hire only certified aquatic applicators.
Manual Management
If you’re going to physically pull out cattails by hand, you need to do so right after they appear in your pond before before they spread further. When you notice cattails growing about 6 inches above your pond’s surface, you can easily remove the plants. Removing an entire plant entails reaching to the base of the pond and getting as much of the roots as you can.
What If You Want To Keep Some Cattails?
As cattails are aesthetically attractive, some pond owners actually choose to keep a few of them, while others don’t want any remaining. In addition to being attractive, another benefit is that cattails can provide shelter for wildlife and fish. Most pond owners who opt to keep some cattails get rid of about 90 percent of them, keeping the remaining 10 percent growing on a pond's shoreline. If you plant to keep a few cattails, just be sure you mark off where you want them so that they don’t spread to beyond that area. Also, realize that keeping just a few cattails involves more care on your part as a pond owner.
Cattail control can involve significant time and effort. If you don't have the time or you’re not sure how to manage these weeds, give the job to professionals. Dragonfly Pond Works is a company that specializes in pond and lake management, serving the whole of North Carolina. Please contact us for all your lake and pond management and maintenance needs.