We often receive calls from customers regarding their cattails and their treatment plan. Many people fail to understand that there are specific guidelines for being able to successfully kill off cattails. The moment you see signs of growth from the plants, you may expect a complete kill after the first treatment. Just because there is growth, does not mean it is a good time to treat. Cattails can be a beneficial plant to have in a pond’s ecosystem until they become overgrown. Not all cattails are the same. Click here to read more about native and invasive species of cattails. At Pond Champs, we use a herbicide called Catt Plex to treat your cattails. Catt Plex is a wonderful product if applied correctly and within the right conditions.
Cattails will not properly respond to treatment until at least mid-summer, around mid-to-late July. In the spring and early summer, cattails are growing excessively. The roots are sending all of its nutrients and energy towards leaf production and growth. If you were to spray too soon, the roots would shoot the chemical right up through the leaves. All you would see is browning of the leaves. You can apply as much product as you want, but you will just be wasting product and not have dead cattails. Catt Plex will kill down to the root if applied correctly.
The plant must have 1-2 feet of growth above the water. The taller the cattail, the more receptive the plant will be to the Catt Plex. Air temperature also plays a role in the success of treating cattails and must be consistently around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Having one warm day in a week will not cut it. Product must also be applied when there is no rain in the forecast to avoid the risk of chemical runoff. Rule of thumb is to apply the product when it is rain-free for at least 24 hours. This will give the product enough time to stick to the plant and work its magic. Many of our customers do not understand the process of cattail treatment and become frustrated when they do not see any results.
Within two weeks, you will notice results. Once the Catt Plex has done its job, you can either pull out what remains of the dead plants or let them decompose in on their own. Don’t forget that if you let them decompose, you could start to build up muck on your pond floor.
Here at Pond Champs, we care that our customers understand both the process of treating cattails successfully and the product we use to treat them. Understanding these aspects of cattail treatment can guarantee the results that you hope for if you choose to treat them on your own. Give us a call if you have any further questions regarding your cattails or using Catt Plex with other pond weeds.