1.Halophytes- These plants have evolved so as to tolerate high salt levels.
2.Glycophytes – These plants cannot tolerate high salt levels.

Cattails thrive in freshwater and are classified as Glycophytes. They have a low tolerance to salt contents. Therefore, salt could be a slow, yet effective treatment of cattails in ponds that have little or no runoff or water exchange. If your pond has either runoff or water exchange the effectiveness of salt would be unlikely because of the dilution.

There is no exact dosage of salt treatment in ponds because of their size, but it most likely would not require much treatment. With that in mind, most plants found in your pond will also have a low salt tolerance. So by treating cattails with salt could also cause problems for your other aquatic plants including lily pads.

Here at the Pond Guy, we’re big fans of Avocet PLX Aquatic Herbicide. When it comes to eradicating cattails and other grassy plants, nothing does a better job. Avocet PLX includes a powerful surfactant that breaks down the waxy cuticle of the plant, allowing the herbicide to penetrate the stalks of cattails. The cattails then do the rest of the work, carrying the chemical treatment throughout the root system to kill the plant at its source.

Because cattails only use a small portion of their root system at one time, a single application of Avocet PLX should be allowed to work for a week or two before cutting the plants down with our Jenlis WeedRazer® or Jenlis WeedRazer® Pro Aquatic Weed Cutter. Occasionally, some roots will survive and send up new growth. When that happens, simply reapply Avocet PLX, wait an additional week or two, and repeat the process.

-Missy

We have that product available on our website. Avocet is now Avocet PLX which already has surfactant mixed in so there is no need to purchase Cide-Kick seperatly. Here is the link. Avocet PLX

I let the local muskrat have a free winter home. By the spring he has eaten enough cattail roots to eliminate my need to do anything else.