Cat tails in Pond

[MGMIAM]

I drained and cleaned pond last year with skid steer, overrun with Cat Tails, but now i need something to put in the water that will kill the cat tail roots that were left in bottom of pond, any info of what to use greatly appreciated Pond is around 3-4 ' deep and only about 75'x75'
MGM

 

[mike mccormick]

If I remember correctly, cupric sulfate is what is used to keep them out.

 

[DaveTooley]

Check with your local agriculture extension office.
We used copper sulfate to control algae. Not sure if works on cat tails.

Edit everything I find is sprayed as a herbicide after they come above the surface.

Amazon.com

 

[okie]

may have to let them grow again---spray foliage so it takes chem down into rhizomes...
im betting arsenal would work but never read that on label.
round up works if you have a leaf to put it on...

 

[JSH]

Those damn things are cute till they are not. Same with lilies. Have lost a lot of duck but area to both.
I forget the name, there is another plant that many refer to as cat tails but they are not. Years ago we took a drip wiper off of a tractor and hung it off the side of the boat on one side. Worked good. Just don’t be in a hurry.
Also be aware if you kill off a huge bunch of vegetation it could mess up the oxygen real bad and loose any aquatic critters.

 

[TrapperBR549]

Glyphosate with a non-ionic surfactant is what you want. Word of warning, after killing plants in the pond they use up a lot of oxygen while they break down so you only want to do part of it at a time or you can kill all the fish.

 

[CharlieNC]

Be cautious regarding who you consult. Govt agencies have been known to stop and sue such efforts in the name of environmental protection.

 

[markT]

Be extremely careful around water with spray. Huge fines associated I’m told.

 

[Dave in WI]

Would be great it it wiped out the muskrats at the same time.....

 

[NorCalMikie]

Think before you try to get rid of the Cat Tails. Those are Corn Dogs for City folk. Might be able to make a $ or 2.

 

[butchlambert]

Fortunately we have no lily pads or cat tails, but we have other aquatic problems. In a couple weeks we will introduce Tilapia to our pond. No, ours will not multiply and they die when the water holds colder than 60 deg or colder.

 

[cmysix]

and researching "pond management" would be too easy?

 

[DiffEQ]

Fortunately we have no lily pads or cat tails, but we have other aquatic problems. In a couple weeks we will introduce Tilapia to our pond. No, ours will not multiply and they die when the water holds colder than 60 deg or colder.

What other problems?
My oldest is just NE of you in Commerce. They pull 12" snapping turtles out of their pond, ~70'x100'.
I told them to try introducing crappie. After seeing first-hand the tilapia farms in China (sewerage settling ponds), I have never eaten that fish since.

 

[ebb]

If the pond is deep enough, it is my understanding that cattails will not grow.

 

[Dave M.]

I drained and cleaned pond last year with skid steer, overrun with Cat Tails, but now i need something to put in the water that will kill the cat tail roots that were left in bottom of pond, any info of what to use greatly appreciated Pond is around 3-4 ' deep and only about 75'x75'
MGM

Chances are they aren’t cattails at all, but phragmites (an invasive plant that can take over water edges and marshes faster than you can imagine).

 

[NorCalMikie]

I would think HE knows the difference between Cat Tails and phragmites.
Ever see a City folk eat phragmite? Cat Tails, well maybe.
They elected STUPID didn't they?

 

[buckeye68]

My pond is 15 deep in the middle and I will get a cat tail that wants to grow along the edge every now and then. I use Round Up with the purple lid. 1.5 once's per gallon of water. No issues. My pond overflow ditch is over run with cat tails but I let’s them grow there.
I would pick one area of the pond and spray a 20 foot section every 3 weeks. Then keep working that area till you’re happy with the results then start working your way around the pond. It may take you all summer to kill everything but it does work. Just keep in mind you want to kill the weeds and not the fish.
I also use blue pond die and added 12 triploid grass crap that are certified sterile by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will not reproduce to control under water aquatic weeds.

 

[butchlambert]

A friend and the husband of our Mayor is in the water business. One of his clients is Bass Pro.
He is responsible for their aquariums. I go to Kevin when I have a question. No, I don't eat the Tilapia.

 

[Knotwild]

No, I don't eat the Tilapia.

But the cattails are good. Pull them up and peel the dirty outer layers of the bottom portion off, slice and eat. Tastes a little like cucumber to me. I learned that in the boy scouts.

 

[butchlambert]

But the cattails are good. Pull them up and peel the dirty outer layers of the bottom portion off, slice and eat. Tastes a little like cucumber to me. I learned that in the boy scouts.

Chuckle chuckle, A different Boy Scout troop than I was in!