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There are dead cattails and phragmites everywhere. Do I need to rake them out once the ice melts?
ASKED BY: Dave of Gary, IN
ASKED BY: Dave of Gary, IN

There are dead cattails and phragmites everywhere. Do I need to rake them out once the ice melts?


A: What an eyesore. As the snow and ice melt, those brown, dried-up cattails and phragmites do little to enhance a landscape. They can, in fact, cause water quality and weed management problems, especially as spring approaches and those green shoots emerge from the dead growth. You need to do something about them, and here's what we recommend.

Frosty Water
With water temperatures still on the chilly side, it's likely too early to start treating your pond or lake with beneficial bacteria, like those found in Airmax MuckAway. Those little detritus-destroyers prefer water that's at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit – and chances are good that it's well below that mark (unless you're in sunny Florida or California …). Besides, even with some oxygen-infusing aeration, it would take a long time before they would be able to decompose large cattail or phragmite stalks.

Winter Management
One option is to leave those dead weeds in the water until spring. They may attract wildlife and create an ideal home for insects, amphibians and birds – as well as small rodents and other possibly unwanted visitors that will hide out in the shoreline brush.

Right now, your best bet is to pull out your weed whacking tools and get to work.

We offer a range of cutters and rakes that'll make the job easy. From a double-sided cutter with an 11-foot reach to a V-shaped cutter that sinks to the bottom and slices weeds at their base, these tools help you cut down those dead plants. And a rake, like one of our weed rakers, will help gather the cut stalks for easy pickup and removal.

Spring Solutions
In the spring when the water temperatures rise and the weeds start to grow again, treat them with an herbicide formulated to tackle the toughest weeds. Remember: those chemicals only work when they're absorbed by a growing plant, so there's no sense in using them when the cattails and phragmites are dried up and dormant.

Happy winter weeding!