Advice for burning/clearing cattails

[Superduper]

Hi folks, been away for a long long time, as life has taken many unforeseen and interesting path the past few years.

Anyhow, I moved into a new home about 3 years ago, it came with a pond which has been a source of enjoyment for me. At the time, there were a few cattails but you could access and approach the pond on virtually every side except one. At the time, it never occurred to me that cattails needed maintenance so I just enjoyed and fished the pond. But the cattails grew. And they grew. Fast forward to this year, it got to the point where I could no longer access the pond anymore. The cattails grew a barrier over 10 feet deep. Not knowing how to get rid of them, I purchased at huge expense, a echo setup which included a long pole power head and an articulating hedge trimmer attachment and (2) 3' extensions. Turns out part of that purchae was wasted since I discovered that I am simply not strong enough to wield the assembly with 2 extensions. Wading in as far as I could with knee high rubber boots, I cut what I could but boy, that required physical exertion beyond what I am really capable of anymore. I did make a dent after 3 tries and last week, burned the piles of dried cattails after consolidating them into 1 huge pile. This was my first attempt to burn anything and boy, after lighting it up, it burned fast and hot. Within just a few short minutes, the whole pile (tall as myself and around 10' around) was nothing but ash, and then the circumference began to creep. Luckily I was able to extinguish them with just a sprinkling can. The field is mowed and much is still green so I don't think I'll ignite a wildfire or anything like that but the fear did cross my mind.

I have come to the conclusion that physically, I'm just not capable of trimming them all, and there will always be some that I can not reach due to how far they extend into the pond. Furthermore, the amount of dried fronds that I'll have to rake and pile is far more than I thought it would be, and much more work than I can handle. I have a plan.... I'll use roundup next year on any new growth to try to keep them under control, perhaps eventually eradicate them. Problem is that the new will grow between the old dried leaves which protects them and prevents me from getting access to them.

Here is my question: I had to burn all the leaves that I cut as there is simply far too much to do anything else with them. Since they are going to be burned anyhow, and it takes so much work to cut them down, why not just burn them all right now where they stand while they are all in a fairly dried state. I figure that the only concern might be the perimeter of the pond but if I water down the area, maybe 3' around the pond, do you think this will be safe? I do have a small propane powered blow torch. Lighting a pile of dried leaves stacked on the ground is one thing. Igniting free standing leaves might be another? Can anyone with experience burning fields share some insight into whether you think this might work? I have zero experience (other than that one 5-minute burn) and don't want to make a mistake.

Here are some pictures of my pond. On one side, I cleared as much as I could and those 3 days it took to clear the shore nearly killed me. I know this is a long post but I wanted to include as much information as I could think of. Thanks in advance.

 

[treemuncher]

DO NOT use Roundup over water. You will kill all of your fish. There is a specific chemical that you can use on water. If I remember correctly it is called Rodeo and that is what USFWS uses.

Cattails spread fast at the roots if I remember correctly. Unless you chemically burn them, I don't see burning as an effective control method. Chemical treatment is likely the easiest option. Otherwise, a long reach excavator would be the other option to remove and keep them from popping back up. The excavator route is what my in-laws did with there pond and that solved the problem....for now.

 

[bcp]

I think they are somewhat depth sensitive, so a steeper slope will have a narrower band of cattails.

The roots are edible. Spread a rumor that a person can get high if eating enough roots and see how fast they disappear.

Bruce

 

[daschluck]

I know exactly what you are saying. I had a very similar experience. I bought rakes of all kinds, weed wacked what I could reach, but ultimately the only thing that really lasts (not forever but quite a while) is to spray them. As treemuncher said, you have to use the right chemicals. They are expensive but they do work. You will also need to add a surfactant to you chemical to kill the cat tails. They have a waxy coating that the surfactant will help to penetrate. What I did was wait until my pond froze over and in the winter I burned the dried up cat tails at that time. Then in spring did my spraying. Not sure if that is an option for you. Once cleaned up, the key is to stay on top of them. Cut or spray when there are not that many. You are right though, it's a job. Good luck.

 

[Superduper]

OK, from what I read, it's not the active ingredient in roundup (glyphosate) that is the problem, it is the surfactants, that is not good for specifically amphibians. The pond safe stuff uses the same vegetation killer (glyphosate) but the surfactant is different. Frankly, while I would love to keep the froggies happy but with what is currently happening with the pond, even if all the frogs and fishes are killed, in the process, it will still need to be done, otherwise, the pond is totally useless to me and a huge eyesore. The pond can be restocked but last time I spoke to the guy at the the fish farm (that sells fish stock), he told me that weed killer is fine around the pond. I don't want to start over but where we currently are at the moment, something drastic has to be done to regain control. Hopefully once the dry stuff are eradicated, we can concentrate on the fresh growth.

Anyhow, the question was in regards to burning the cattail rushes where they stand. Anyone can share some experience or advice?

Daschluck; Question: when you burned your stands in the winter, did they ignite easy in the cold weather and did the burn proprogate through the rushes or did you need to continue to provide a fuel source? Last year, we had a mild winter and while the pond looked to froze, I don't trust going anywhere over the water surface, as I suspect it's only glass thin. I just thought to burn them now while weather is good rather than trying to ignite the stands in 10 degree weather which I'm thinking might not be so easy. Additionally, as the rushes expand from 10 to 20 feet into the water, I'm only able to ignite the perimeter so I need the fire to spread to the rest of the leaves without me having to continually supply the fuel, which I won't be able to reach that far.

 

[bcp]

Some interesting ideas here:

Cornell Cooperative Extension | Controlling Cattails

I like the idea of using a gas-powered brush cutter from a boat or raft, cutting them underwater.

Bruce

 

[Deere Dude]

What about a weedburner with a 300,000 bTU head. That will have a pretty good reach and very hot. Possibly throw a half gallon of diesel into the brush and light it up. Maybe use a backpack sprayer with a 20' range with the diesel.

Redirect Notice

 

[Creamer]

I was thinking of the spraying a mist of diesel over them and lighting them to get rid of the tops now and then in the spring you can spray the new growth.

I used to have cattails in my pond but I built a treehouse and thatched the roof with them and they never grew back. After a few years they broke down as a roof and I didn't have more to replace them with so I created my own problem.

 

[Superduper]

Some interesting ideas here:

Cornell Cooperative Extension | Controlling Cattails

I like the idea of using a gas-powered brush cutter from a boat or raft, cutting them underwater.

Bruce

I did do some research earlier this year.

Hand pulling would be akin to trying to empty a swimming pool one cup at a time, while someone at the other end of the pool is dumping a cup of water into the pond. I could work forever and not make a dent. Furthermore, it is easier said than done. I did try pulling with zero luck. They simply won't come out without great force at which time, the leaves generally snap suddenly with me falling backwards.

Mowing only works on the shoreline where the cattails are not. The few that do sprout up gets cut down but it's the 10' tall ones in the water that I can't get to.

Dredging or backhoe work is not an option. First I have neither and cost would be prohibitive to hire. But frankly, because these ponds are clay lined, backhoe-ing the banks will most certainly compromise the pond liner/seal and damage it irreparably.

Cutting them below waterline on a boat might be something I could try, if only I could even launch my row boat through 15 feet of cattail rushes. But even then, I can tell you that I tried trimming them with the gas powered hedge trimmer while standing on shore, and it's barely manageable. I already know that trying to do the same while sitting on the boat is impossible to do safely. Standing... forget it. The one time I tried to stand on our little boat... well let's just say I learned really fast "don't do that." That was without trying to balance a gas powered cutting attachment.

Chemical herbicides seem to be the easiest solution but with the cattail blades now an impenetrable 10-20 feet deep, and the new growth constantly nesting within the safety confines protected by the dried stuff, it's not a solution that is practical unless the dried stuff is first eradicated, hence the desire to employ a complete burn of the current growth. Let's just say that I don't want to employ chemical means, especially since I know I have fish in the pond, but at this point, I've already tried or ruled out the other options and I've given up with the other mechanical options.

 

[2458n]

burning and leaving the trash on the pond will kill all your fish in the spring. Get a good magazine and see what the companies that sell fish for restocking use. In northwest Ohio the additional problem is people use these small ponds for their drinking water. Call Defiance Ohio farm services and see what they say.