Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Cattails in new pond

Hi there,
I am wondering if I should try to get rid of what appears to be cattails started in one spot. I actually like them and there are some in the "runoff area" beyond the pond but don't want the ones in the pond to "take over" the pond like I have seen in some places.
Any suggestions?
The Pond
Thanks:)

Nice looking pond.

What size is it?

Hi MRHELLO
thanks:)
It is small - about 75 feet long and almost as wide and about 12 feet deep in the deepest part.

De --

Great looking pond. I don't know if you subscribe to Pond Boss magazine, but Bob Lusk has published a lot of really great stuff about small ponds. We've got some real interesting Pond Boss friends who do incredible projects with ponds much smaller than yours.

From the pictures on your link, I'm not sure I'd worry too much about the cattails. They prefer shallow water. Your pond appears to get deep fairly close to shore.

If the cattails become a problem there are a number of alternatives in a pond like yours. An hour's worth of backhoe time can get rid of most of them, and the removal will last for several years. During the winter, you can also chop them off at the top of the ice. If they are close enough to shore, you can hand pull them when the summertime water gets just a little low.

Cattails are not all bad. They suck up a lot of nutrients, including a lot of really nasty stuff. By sucking up the nutrients, they also help control filamentous algae.

Good luck,
Ken

So what would that amount to in acre terms?

Hi catmandoo

Thanks for the compliment to the pond. No subscription yet, had a big unexpected expense recently so funds are pretty limited.
Yes, the pond is deep close to the shore except a small area on the far end from where the cattails are so as long as they don't get over there we probably won't have a problem. And since they are beneficial that's a plus.
Thanks for the reply. Had wondered why I wasn't getting any since I thought I had it set up to email me but just went and checked and it wasn't.
DUHWitch;)

I don't really know, I figure less than 1/4.

My original pond was a little bigger than your pond (also 12' deep) and I tried to leave a few cattails. Big mistake IMO. After experiencing how fast they can take over I would advise against it.

Consider using water iris instead of cattails. Many of the aquatic iris (not yellow, i.e. I.pseudacorus - http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/205) spread a lot slower and do not grow as deep as cattails thus iris causing a lot fewer problems providing about the same benefits as cattails. Louisiana iris are good choices. Iris versicolor and Iris fulva are two wild type of iris that are common in some regions.
Postscript: Aquatic yellow iris I.pseudachorus spreads fast and will colonize shorelines fairly rapidly. It is considered a nuisance plant by some agencies. Seeds are fertile, bouyant, and the plants prolific.

Thank you Loretta and Bill Cody

unfortunately just read that the iris Bill mentioned is prohibited in NH
"Laws and lists:

Iris pseudacorus
Connecticut: Invasive, banned
Massachusetts: Prohibited
Montana: Category 3 noxious weed
New Hampshire: Prohibited invasive species
Oregon: "B" designated weed, quarantine
Washington: Class C noxious weed
"

I believe that's why Bill said "not"

I took what he posted as "don't use Yellow Iris" because of how fast it spreads.

How about giant burreed?

Bur-reed (genus Sparganium spp) is acceptable and rarely a problem in fishing ponds. There are at least 8 fairly common species that incluce dwarf to the giant in the midwest. They tend to be shallow rooted which I think is a beneficial feature. There is an underwater growth form of S. eurycarpum (giant or common, aka broadfruited bur-reed) where the leaves look like eelgrass (Vallisneria).

esshup is correct - I ment to say or imply the yellow aquatic iris is a fast spreader and can become a nuisance if not closely managed.

I have yellow iris and like them. They are large and showy. They do move around somewhat, but have not become a nuisance for me. I know some don't approve of them.

oops - missed the "not"
wonder what the bur-reed would be like with my Chow Chows long fur:0

DeWitch, Pickerel Weed is a nice plant for ponds.

Like Loretta, I made the mistake of leaving cattails around my pond. It has been a battle for three years. If you want to keep them, decide the size of patch you want and attack anything that grows outside of it. Also, cut off any seed pod heads that appear. If they blow to your main pond, they will be all over the next year.

I agree with others that that are many other things that you can plant that are easier to work with than cattails. I would get rid of them if it was my pond.

Dooooon't doooooo iiiiiiitttt!

Seriously, I had a few pop up and thought they looked nice and help stabilize the bank. I killed every single one this year. They spread quickly. If you are willing to work on maintaining them on a weekly basis, then you could likely have a small patch of them. I would go with other plant options.

Mike

This is coming from a guy who just last year said "I really like them on the pond. They serve as erosion control on the far side of the pond, and on the dam. If any start creeping over this way I'll just hand pull them. They can't be that bad to control."

Quite an about face, I'd say.....

Now, lets talk about those White Fragrant Water Lilies you want to introduce to your pond...............

There are domestic water lillies that are not invasive and are much more showy. some are not very expensive and can be spread by sepearting the tubers after they establish.

Thanks for all you info on the dreaded cattails. Still not sure if that is what they are but will keep a close watch on them.
I did plant some wild irises (blue/purple) on the waters edge last year, the leaves came up this year but no flowers. Also liatris and that didn't even come up at all.
Just planted some Trollius this year, sure hope it comes back cuz I really love those.

Water Lilies won't grow in deep water will they? All sides of our pond go right into deep water except for a small "beach area" that was created as a shallow way in so that we could walk us and our dogs into the water. I don't want that covered with vegetation but I do love water lilies.