Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Burning old cattail stalks

I'm starting to reclaim/restore a small pond. The edges have cattails out about 3 feet. My plan is to slowly clean up the edges with my small backhoe. Since I can only do a few feet each weekend, I am considering burning the standing stalks now, then spray the emerging new growth. Other than ugly burned stalks at the water line, is there any other problems I might be creating with this approach?

Thanks,
Barry

I've done it, and it created no problems with the pond. Be VERY careful and pre-plan your method to stop the fire. Figure out how many people you need and then double it. I found that cattail stalks burn hot, high and hard!

Ditto what Bruce said about cattails burning hot, high and hard!

Glad I ask! Should I have a hose handy to keep the fire from spreading? We have had a very wet winter/spring here in central Indiana. There are some wild roses and scrub trees mixed in. Don't care about the bushes, but I'd hate to burn up the dock!

Barry

A hose would be handy! A bucket you can dip into the pond also comes in handy, sometimes we will pour a line of water on the ground to keep the fire from jumping when we burn the grass on our dam every spring.

I burned my cattails a few years ago in midwinter when everyting was wet and no combustable material was adjacent to the pond. Good thing, I have never seen anything burn hotter, harder or higher than those cattails. My neighbors still talk about it and I will Not do it again.