How to Get Rid of Cattails

Mechanical Eradication

• 1

  Cut or remove plants in late summer or early fall. Wait until the new, green growth is visible above the water line. If you wish to pull the plant out, ensure that you get as much of the root system as possible. In difficult-to-access places, or areas of dense population, cutting off any new grown will deprive the rhizomes of food and the plant will eventually die. Use a cutter to chop off new leaves. (References 1 &2)

• 2

  Reduce the level of the pond or marsh and use a bulldozer or backhoe to remove the cattails. This method causes a major disturbance to the pond or wetland and should only be used as a last resort. Permits will need to be obtained for this large scale cattail removal. This is the only solution for floating cattail beds. (References 1 &3)

• 3

  Lower the water level in ponds during the growing season to facilitate hand picking or clipping of cattails. You can also lower the water level in the cooler months in order to freeze rhizomes, thereby killing the cattails. (Reference 3) Remove the dead leaves and increase water levels in the spring to starve cattails of oxygen and kill them. (Ref 1)

Chemical Eradication

• 4

  Obtain herbicides that contain diquat or glyphosate to kill cattails. There are a number of products on the market that contain these chemicals and you should read all instructions carefully before selecting one that best suits your pond or marsh. (Ref 2 &3)

• 5

  Spray herbicides containing diquat during the summer months when growth is abundant. The chemical is not absorbed by the plant and will only kill the parts of the plant it is in contact with. This means that you have to spray each cattail from all directions. These chemicals do not kill the rhizomes and will therefore have to be sprayed annually. Mix with a surfactant to improve effectiveness. (Reference 2 and 3)

• 6

  Apply glyphosate chemicals during the window recommended by the manufacturer. This chemical is absorbed into the plant and does not require multi-directional spraying. A single application will eradicate cattail stands. Mix with a surfactant to improve effectiveness. (Reference 2 and 3)