Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat how deep of water will reeds grow in?

common reeds

Blake, I don't know from first hand experience, but here are some sites to read. I found them by researching information needed for a herbacide applicator's license.

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/lakepond/factsheet/Phragmites.pdf

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/ec166/build/ec166.pdf

I also read that the common reed won't grow in water that is deeper than 12".

Blake are you referring to the plants referenced by esshup or the rushes, bull rush, soft rush types (Scirpus and Juncus) often referred to or commonly called reeds?

well both common reeds (Phragmites australis) and bulrush (Scirpus). i'm just trying to find what emergent plant will grow in the deepest water and that i can buy seeds for. i want to plant a shoreline while a pond is down.

I've seen water willow (Justicia americana) growing in 3.5 ft of water. Great plant. Starts kickin in May in SC, probably alittle earlier in SE Texas, first frost browns it up for the winter. Sprigs or shoots are easiest way to plant. Shovel or dibble them in.

I've seen cattails growing in over 4' of water. But, I don't recommend planting them.........

I would avoid the phragmites as well as they may try to take over and become a dense mess.

Phragmites spreads very fast but I don't think it grows in water deeper than 2 ft.?? Kelly Duffie or others could verify this water depth growth habit.

I have seen giant bulrush grow in 3 ft of water and have 3-4ft above the water. It will even get taller according to info on websites - normal height 4-8 ft tall.

Advanced Reading.
To get more technical about these plants:
Soft stem rush is also called Giant bulrush, soft stem bulrush,
Scirpus validus is the old scientific name. New name is Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/gt_bulrush.htm

This giant bulrush has very similar appearence, growth structure, and habitat suitability to hard stem bullrush - Schoenoplectus acutus. Both have a documented mature maximum height of 10ft.
http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/15235.pdf

Both are pretty hard to manually control as the root mass is dense and new plants will sprout from residual unremoved roots. For pond habitat and as easier to manage, I prefer the shorter growing rush species of Schoenoplectus (Scirpus) and Juncus.

Soft rush: Juncus effusus looks similar to giant and hardstem bulrush
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/soft_rush.htm

anyone know where i can buy bulrush seeds online?

I don't think very many places sell seeds. Why not go out and harvest your own seeds?
One good place to buy bulrush rootstock is Wildlife Nurseries Inc, POB 2724 Oshkosh, WI 54903 920-231-3780. They have: Hardstem, Softstem, 3-square, Green, River, Alkali bulrushes and woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus). They also have Flowering rush-Butomus umbellatus, Soft rush-Juncus effusus, and Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi.

The hardstem and soft stem bulrush spread pretty fast thus unless you want expansive areas covered it would not take very many plantings to colonize a pretty large area. 300 roots = abt $117

FYI: Woolgrass:
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/wool_grass.htm

thanks, i might call them up. any idea what kind of roots:feet of shoreline the planting ratio would be?

Roots will be separated plantable roots from uprooted root masses. Ask about all this when calling.
If shoreline soil is not hard as cement, IMO one root per every 2-3ft linear would result in a solid line of rush in 2-3 yrs. They will expand into areas above and below the original planted row allowable for their genetic potential (species characteristics) and ambient conditions.