Removal of cattails ?

[darkday]

I have a marsh that's about 2-3' deep at best and it being taken over by cattails. When it was empty we tried rototilling the whole thing but that didn't do anything. What is the best way to remove them ? I'm guessing with some sort of spray ?

Oops, I just read the sticky at the top I didn't realize this was for tractor projects only... I guess it kind of it since I tried using the tractor before ?

 

[Onthesauk]

I hiked through a golf course this weekend and wondered the same thing. Lots of ponds, fountains, bridges. Looked like they had selectively sprayed some of the cattails, maybe 60 percent were dead and dried up. Might be a problem if any of the water runs offsite but just standing water in a marsh shouldn't be a problem. Maybe ask at the local golf course, see what they do.

 

[BigMccorm]

I used to work on a golf course and the best way we came up with was to pull them out by hand. Unfortunately that is very time consuming and rather labor intensive. But it works.

 

[sr160009]

Use what I call blue crystal, it wooks great on catails. It will also kill just about any aquaidic plant also. I think you can still get it at Tractor supply.

 

[MartyAnderson]

ERASER AQ is what I use to kill cattails & other non wanted growth in & around my pond.
Eraser-AQ 32 OZ. at cooperseeds.com

PRODUCT NAME: Eraser AQ.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Liquid herbicide which can be sprayed along
the shoreline of ponds and lakes without risk or injury to fish
or other aquatic wildlife.

TARGET WEEDS: Anything that's there. This product will
work on any broadleaf, grassy or woody plant.

WHERE TO USE IT: Designed for use on weeds which are growing
along the shoreline of ponds or lakes. It can also be used on
plants which are growing up and out of the water. To be effective,
you'll need to have a good part of the plant above the water line
so the treatment can be absorbed by the plant and get down to it's
root system.

Marty Anderson

 

[Toiyabe]

Use what I call blue crystal, it wooks great on catails. It will also kill just about any aquaidic plant also. I think you can still get it at Tractor supply.

Sounds like Copper Sulfate. Unless you're carefull with your dosage you can kill just about anything growing or swimming in the water with it.

Personally, I wouldn't use herbicides in a marsh.

 

[sr160009]

Sounds like Copper Sulfate. Unless you're carefull with your dosage you can kill just about anything growing or swimming in the water with it.

Personally, I wouldn't use herbicides in a marsh.

You have to be careful with it, but it doesn't harm the fish.

 

[volcamp]

I think in my neck of the woods, coastal wetlands, they will either shoot you or take your first born for messin' with them thangs.

 

[RedRocker]

I used some stuff from the pond guy that knocked mine out and it hasn't come back.

 

[unioncreek]

If you can spray them just after you drain the pond use Roundup or if there is water in it you need to use Rodeo (think that's what it's called). Rodeo is the same as Roundup, but labeled for use on water.


Bobg

 

[darkday]

I read cutting them off about two inches below the water line will kill most of them after one or two cuttings. Makes sense but how would I go about doing that ?

Pulling them out wouldn't work because there are to many and this is covering to big of an area. What ever is to be done it has to be done with a machine of some sort.

 

[BTDT]

You say how deep your marsh is, but how big an area does it actually cover? I think that will help decide on what kind of solution you will need.

 

[MikeD74T]

I read cutting them off about two inches below the water line will kill most of them after one or two cuttings. Makes sense but how would I go about doing that ? quote]

Here's the way land was cleared in Australia & in Vietnam, possible something on a smaller scale with a cable or chain would be effective on cattails. SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations MikeD74T

 

[dtd24]

Wow ball and chain technique. Thats pretty neat. It looks almost midevil. That sparked a thought. One long chain looped to both sides of tractor, would need some weight to sink down to the bottom. I dunno.

 

[darkday]

It's about 1/2 of an acre right now I think but I also have another marsh right now that's about 1 1/2-2 acres that will probably be done if I'm successful with the smaller one.

Not sure if I would be able to use a ball and chain or not will look into it.