How Many Cattails are Okay?
This is largely up to the owner to decide, based on his or her management goals. Many pond owners prefer not to have any cattails because of their explosive ability to spread and the subsequent effort required to manage them. Other owners like areas of cattails because of the natural, pleasing aspect of them and for their value as fish and wildlife habitat. Most often, these owners like to limit cattails to about 10% of the shoreline areas. In a round one-acre pond, this would result in about 75 feet of shoreline. If you are an owner desiring some cattails, it is important for you to physically mark the areas you desire cattails and then prevent their spread outside the area. This requires occasional vigilance by the owner. Mechanical Management Physically removing cattails is a viable option when they first invade a pond or begin to spread from an area the pond owner wants them confined to. New cattails can easily be pulled by hand once the new green growth is about 6 inches above the
