Getting rid of cattails?

[Deleted]

Hey guys we have a lot of cattails in our pond and they are overrunning everything! We have been thinking about live trapping some muskrats and put in there but have heard they destroy the dam of the pond. Our breast work is about 30 ft thick. Anyone else try this trick? will they clean it up pretty good? thanks.

mark

[Admin]

Muskrats won't kill the cattails. The only thing from keeping the cattails from spreading is deep water. They will flourish is shallow water under 4'. I'd use an excavator.

[johnd]

I've tried all kinds of stuff in my pond. The only thing that works good is to get the roots out. I couldn't afford an excavator so i pulled them by hand, throw them on the bank for a few days till they dry out and get rid of them.

[minnesotascott]

By hand works well, lots of back breaking work but it works well. John why didnt you harvest some of the roots, they are full of starches. I lik eto slice the roots up and cook in a wok (stir fry). If you boil the root the starchy water can be added to a stew or soup to make it thicker.

[johnd]

A cattle lot with about 150 cattle in it drains into my pond. Don't eat anything out of it. Fish can't live in it cuz duckweed smothers them, another pond behind mine on the neighbors property drains into mine in the spring, so to hard to kill the duckweed. But it grows muskrats, leaches, and skeeters real good. Lots of bats around tho so skeeters aren't to bad.

[bison876]

try round up of some other kind of spray. Might as you local county extension office or farm store.