Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Question re: horsetail reed in/around pond

I am considering transplanting horsetail reed from a creek on my property to my pond. This question is for those with horsetail reed now. How deep into the water can I expect it to spread? The sides of my pond are relatively steep so I don't expect it to spread far up the slopes away from the water's edge. Am I mistaken and setting my self up for future eradication struggles? Thanks

It spreads pretty well up on the dry banks in central Indiana.

My 2 cents.I would suggest against it. I purchased a property a year ago with horsetail surrounding about 3/4 of a .5 acre pond. I have spent a lot of time trying to keep it in check. It seems to spread everywhere. I've tried cutting, glyphosate, burning and it keeps coming back. It has spread from the banks into the lawn up to 20 feet. It does seem that cutting it before it produces seed works the best.

No seed, but rather spores. It is a very primitive plant. I got other marginals established first, and then added horsetail. It can be aggressive.

Consider planting other wetland marginal plants such as wild water iris, arrow head, pickerel plant, lizard tail, and spike rush (Eleochris). These plants are a lot less invasive. Dwarf water lilies and those called "changebles" from water garden nurseries will stay in shallow water.

An aquatic approved herbicide that is Diquat based will work on it. I also add 2 fl. oz. of a surfactant per gallon of tank mix to the Diquat. I use Reward or Tribune.

Thanks for the suggestion esshup. One of my issues is that my pond is the water source for the house and I am hesitant due to the 1 - 3 days restriction for usage after treatment. I tried using the Glyphosate (Shore Klear)first since there are no restrictions. I will try again in the spring since I did have some results. If I'm not happy with the next treatment I think I will try the Reward.

I tried the glyphosate route and didn't have good results. It could very well have been the applicator and not the product.

Thanks for all replies. I have reconsidered and am going for something less invasive than horsetail reed. It was appealing because it was so near and free. I like the look of rushes and cattails, but want to control where they grow.

I am still drawn to native water plants that I can harvest and transplant because of my experience with costly hardy mail- order waterlilies, I planted fifteen last year and critters ate all but one, which I saved and moved to a livestock water trough, where it does well.

I don't live on my pond property so I don't know what ate the lilies, but it took rhizomes and all. The creek running through my land is the North Paluxy river, a tributary of the Brazos and I have seen a beaver, a river otter, and wild pigs. I am not keen on buying expensive plants only to feed the critters. I think I'll see what the shallow waters of local public waterways have and try to identify/collect some desirable samples.

Cattails can be very invasive also. If you like the leaves on cattails, try giant bur-reed. Not sure if they grow down there though.

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/gnt_burreed.html

Horsetails have more biomass underground than above, and can extend far down into the soils. That is what makes them so resistant to glyphosphate products. It is difficult to get enough into the plant to kill it. I worry that its extensive underground plant mass could actually provide a means for leaks.

When I was in landscaping years ago, I curiously dug up a garden infested with horsetail to understand the plant, and I couldn't dig deep enough to get at all of the plant. Amazing how large it really was! What works is a much higher concentration to get enough into the plant to kill it.