A customer recently contacted us regarding Cattail control and Cattail Removal. Below is his question and our response.
Question:
I have about a ¼ acre pond with an average depth of 4 feet and a significant amount of cattails. The pond was established about 13 years ago and has a significant population of fish: mostly bass and blue gill. Each year I have “gloved-up” and dug through the mud to pull up the root systems for cattail removal, but this past year I skipped and the weeds are winning! Do you have a product that will target the Cattails without destroying all the other plants (that frogs and young fish in the mature) and won’t harm the existing population of fish also with 2 large dogs that are in the pond daily throughout the year until it freezes? Please let me know. Thank you.
Answer:
There are 2 basic types of Cattail, Common and Narrowleaf. Common Cattails leaves are ½” or wider with no space between the 2-part spike. Narrowleaf Cattail leaves are less than ½” wide and have a space between the 2-part spike. Both types reproduce from tubers and seed. If the entire tuber is not removed, the portion left behind will send up new growth. As the brown spike matures in the Fall it releases seeds that drop, root and sprout new weeds.
2 good options for Cattail control are:
Aquacide Pellets are a systemic option for Common Cattails. See attached photograph. For best results, apply early spring to new growth as it begins to rise above the water surface. Apply at the rate of 10 lbs. per 2,500 sq. ft. (50’ x 50’) to the Kill Cattails roots.
Shore-Klear Liquid is a systemic option for both Common and Narrowleaf Cattail. For best results, apply mid-season when Cattails are up and in full bloom. Mix 2 oz. Shore-Klear Liquid with enough water to make 1 gallon of solution, add 1 oz. of Cygnet Liquid Surfactant, and spray over foliage on a warm sunny day. A 2,500 sq. ft. area would require approximately 5 oz. Shore-Klear Liquid per treatment.
Cattails are very aggressive weeds. Repeat treatment may be needed to kill cattails, about 3-5 weeks after the first application if cattails begin to show signs of recovery.
When applied according to label directions, neither product will harm frogs or fish. Dogs can swim and cattle can water the same day as application.