Cattails – you’ve seen them. Tall, fluffy, and taking over ponds like they own the place. But are they good or bad? Well, that depends on what kind of pond owner you are. Let’s break it down in a way that won’t put you to sleep.
Cattails: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Cattails aren’t all bad. They actually help by:
- ✅ Filtering Runoff – They catch trash and absorb nutrients that would otherwise turn your pond into an algae-filled nightmare.
- ✅ Preventing Erosion – Their roots (fancy word: rhizomes) hold the soil together and keep shorelines from washing away.
- ✅ Providing Wildlife Habitat – Ducks, birds, and fish love hanging out in cattails. It’s like a VIP lounge for nature.
- ✅ Helping Fishermen – If you love fishing, cattails attract bass, crappie, and sunfish.
The Bad
But wait… cattails also have a dark side:
- ❌ They Spread Like Crazy – One minute you have a few, next thing you know, your pond is 80% cattails.
- ❌ They Block Important Structures – Drain pipes, spillways, and irrigation intakes can get clogged up, increasing the risk of flooding.
- ❌ They Speed Up Pond Aging – When cattails grow, die, and decay, they create a sludge layer that makes your pond shallower over time.
- ❌ They Get in the Way – Boating, fishing, and just enjoying the water? Not if cattails take over.
- ❌ They Attract Pests – Mosquitoes, snakes, rats, and even beavers love cattails. That’s a big nope.
So What’s the Plan?
Going full “let nature do its thing” might seem chill, but it can wreck your pond in the long run. Instead, try this:
- 👉 Keep a Few Patches – Small sections of cattails are fine and even beneficial. Just don’t let them take over.
- 👉 Use Herbicides Wisely – If you need to remove cattails, use EPA-approved aquatic herbicides when they’re fully green and at least 18 inches tall. Best time? Late summer to early fall.
- 👉 Be Patient – After treating, WAIT at least 45 days before removing the dead plants. Otherwise, they’ll just grow right back.
Bottom Line
Cattails can be cool in small doses, but left unchecked, they’ll turn your pond into an overgrown swamp. Keep them under control, and your pond will stay healthy, functional, and fun to enjoy!
Patrick Simmsgeiger is President of Diversified Waterscapes and a Certified Lake Manager. Patrick can be reached at [email protected].
