Excavator for cleaning pond??

[EddieWalker]

Cattails spread by a tuber root system. You have to get all the roots out to get rid of them. If not, they will just come back and be just as bad by the end of the year. Poison kills them down to the root and after enough applications, will get rid of them for good.

Cattails do not like deep water. Depending on the clarity of the water, 4 to six feet is it for them. Making your banks as steep as possible makes it very hard for them to get established and easier for you to take care of them if they show up.

Problem with the mini is that you will fill up that bucket as soon as it hits anything. You will spend ten times as much time with it then you would with a bigger machine. DON NOT make the mistake of thinking you will get a lot done quickly with a smaller machine. Half the power takes four times as long to get the same thing done. Depending on the size of the machine, how steep your bank is and how deep those roots are, you might find the small machine to be very "tippy"

What are you going to do with them once you dig them up? Digging is the easy part, getting rid of what you've dug is where your time goes and ends up costing you the most money.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[BoonvilleKid]

Having been involved with the planting of over 400,000 plants for a sewage system, I'm well aware they have tuber root systems. However, if you get rid of all water in the pond and pick the right conditions, fire will not only kill the crown it will kill the roots too.
The other way to kill them is to drown them. Quickly raise the water level 24" and let it stand there for at least four weeks. Then drop it quickly to root level. Then burn.
Your statement that getting rid of the debris will be the biggest problem is exactly right.

 

[Western]

Eddie,

Kinda what I was thinking as far as the "tippy" part goes, That was my primary concern.

I think for best kill, I will use the Rodeo herbicide with whatever method I go with. I knew about the roots, also about drowning them, but I don't have a reliable way to fill it with enough water and can't count on mother nature to fill it.

Waste would be a lessor headache to me than having them in my pond. I can dry them out and till or burn them in my feed plot which is beside the pond. I already went in and cut all the "pods" earlier this last fall.

 

[Western]

Here is a photo.

2 more month's without rain and I'll be able to jump in with my tractor!

 

[Birdhunter1]

Boonville you are right there are no quail anywhere near Murphysboro and that is my final answer and I am sticking to it.

 

[TracTrac]

Talk with someone who has experence operating heavy equip. on soft ground.
Years ago I nearly flipped a backhoe in a pond while trying to break a dam. I had the hoe sitting at 90 degrees to the bank. While lifting the heavy muck my outriggers started sinking,,,fast. I had to jam the bucket on the pond bottom to save the hoe.
Your dam looks just like the on I was working on.
Rent the big hoe.

 

[Western]

TracTrac,
I think your right, if I do go that route, the bigger one would allow me to work from the upper side and avoid being on the dam.

I will have the guy that dug the "hole" out soon for a half day's pushing stumps, he may have some valuable input.

Thanks

 

[20 20]

Hey guy's, need a little comment on this please.

SITE:
I have a small pond, maybe 70' across, 8' deep so the banks are somewhat steep but manageable.

I would be quessing that your pond drops 1' for every 3.5' to 4.3' you go out depnding on where the 8' depth occures? Just quessing do you have any pictures? If this is the case that's not that steep, normal drop is 1' for every 3' out. A mini can handle that angle with out an issue. I have taken my 4000lb mini on much steeper angles.

PROBLEM:
I have cattails over 80% since the drought last year. I have intentions of spraying them With Rodeo, but also kicking around the idea of digging them out first.

Many on here disagree with me but PLEASE stay away from the chemicals if at all possible, exhaust all other efforts 1st. I did what you are thinking about and have a very safe natural pond that is easy to keep under control. I don't care what the "safe" label on a chemical says sooner or later it will bite back some how.

QUESTION:

I Have looked at different excavators for rent and was wondering if a small "mini" say a 4000#er would be up to the task?? I have never operated one so there is a learning curve.

Anyway, it was just a thought so I figured I'd throw it out for some ideas.
Thanks

The only problem with a mini for this job is...... the reach. If you can reach all of the cattails then it will do the job with ease. If you've never operated a mini, especially on inclines, then yes you are in for a learning curve . Mini's can tip much easier then their larger sibblings, but they can also get into tighter spots.

 

[20 20]

I posted before I noticed your photo, sorry.
I would not have any problems clearing that pond with my mini, nor getting the weed on the bank for later removal. Your experience will give you the answer on what you can handle as far as this job would go. You could also cut a small road/ramp into the pond so the drive down would not be so steep. Eddie is correct digging is the easy part getting rid of the spoils is the pain. I have a ditch bucket on my mini {30" wide with water drain holes} it can move one heck of a pile of cattails in no time. Digging weed is a lot different then digging dirt and IMO easy to get rid of.