Cattails
Identifying Cattails
Physical Characteristics
Aquatic, perennial herb, 5 to 6 feet tall from large, creeping rhizomes.
Leaves:
- Arranged & straight
- Immobile
- Linear
- Fleshy
Flowers:
- In a long, dense cylindrical spike
- Spike at end of stem
Fruit:
- Long-stalked small nut
Seeds:
- In the air
Stem:
- Simple
- Jointless
Controlling Cattails In Lakes And Ponds
Physical Management of Cattails
Cattails have a root system which means the roots need to be destroyed to prevent the plant from coming back.
Products To Physically Manage Cattails
- Aquatic Vegetation Groomer (AVG)
The AVG is a gas powered underwater aquatic weed cutter that was especially designed to cut down cattails at their root base. It uses two circular reciprocating blades which prevents it from getting tangled up like other weed whacker products sold online.
The AVG can be used in water depths up to 4 feet and comes with a 2 year warranty. It has a powerful 24 cc 2-cycle engine and a sealed gear box to keep it running smooth for years to come. Additionally, we have an optional shoulder strap and an optional float mount available to make the job of cutting down cattails that much easier.
Herbicide Control of Cattails
Herbicide control is a great option for Cattail control because you can literally apply the herbicide and then sit back and let it do its work. Most herbicides can control Cattail throughout the season and only needs to be applied once a year.
Herbicide Products To Control Cattails
Rodeo herbicide is extremely effective at killing Cattails at their roots and preventing them from coming back for years. Its active ingredient is Glyphosate† N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, isopropylamine salt which has shown to be practically not-toxic to freshwater invertebrates.
After applying Rodeo herbicide you should start to see results within 2 to 4 days and within 7 to 10 days your Cattail problem should disappear. However, you want to make sure there is no rain in sight for 6 hours after applying for maximum results.