How to kill cattails and or controlling cattails can be a difficult job as these aquatic plants are fairly aggressive with a root system that pops up a new stalk just about anywhere.
Cattails may take their time getting to your pond or show up in the first year. These guys don't take long once they start and can become a real nuisance in a short time. On the other hand they are good in a way. The small fish have a place to hide from their predators, birds nest in them, help break the waves for erosion control and a safe haven for the smallest of bugs to help with the food chain of the pond, even frogs use them for their hang out. Another useful aspect is to help control geese with a width of 2 or 3 feet from the pond to the shore the geese will not want to tread through them in fear of their predators.
Cattails are useful in the whole scheme of things but when or how much is enough? It really depends on the pond owner. Personally I feel it is a free aquatic plant that does not need to be purchased or spend the time planting and they come back every year. Over the years I've let them go as they see fit, but they have gone too far.
OK on with how to kill cattails starting by hand, shovel, cutting and by machine. By hand pulling them at the base may be an option only if the plant is small and the roots come out with the plant. Using a shovel there is a much better chance of digging up the roots when removing cattails. Cutting cattails is another option just be sure to do so when the water level of the pond is low typically just before winter. This will help next year to slow down the growth because the cut off stock below the water can't receive oxygen, and be sure to get rid of the dead decaying stalks and seed heads that are in the water. Leaving the seeds and stalks to decay create more unwanted nutrients in the water for more weeds, algae and muck. A word of caution when removing and dumping disposing be sure to put them in an area where the wind won't blow them or the seeds back into the pond.
Using a machine such as a backhoe can be very effective in removing cattails along with their root system. Be sure the pond does not have a synthetic liner or only having a thin clay liner because with each scoop of the bucket you'll be removing some of the clay in order to actually remove these roots.
These are the safest ways without using chemicals or taking a chance of harming the environment. With that said there is the chemical way, although effective in controlling them we need to watch we don't harm wildlife, other wanted plants and our drinking water supply. Caution some states do not allow the use of chemicals and other states require a permit to apply chemicals. Check with your fish and boat or fish and game offices.
The how to kill cattails video can be seen on you tube, http://www.youtube.com/whatpond
Darrell Rhoades and What Pond is growing, providing information on pond building, pond management, and water clarity. Helping you to be informed before starting the pond building project or helping ponds already established. To discover more about pond management see, http://www.whatpond.com/pond-management discover what ponds are all about and what it takes to build a pond visithttp://www.whatpond.com/pond-building
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