NW Michigan
120' of frontage on a tiny lake. The only shoreline that was left intact because I bought it and didnt bring in loads if sand for a beach. .
I love my marshy wetland shoreline.
I do have a dock which I feel a little guilty about. One side of the dock seems wetter than the other and has a lot of cat tails. Me, not knowing any better thought great, beautiful. Then I was on a conservation district kayak event and found that most cattail communities have been taken over by non native ones.
Sure enough mine are non native. And spreading to the other side of the dock. Tried digging a couple out. At 69 I cant they are too rooted. And even if I hired someone they would destroy all the other plants trying to get in there to do it.
I have to get in there to cut purple loosestrife and have notice it takes a long time to come back. Its all very tender and any foot traffic has a lasting impact.
Its snow covered and frozen now and I though maybe I could cut stalks but most seem down and not sure it would do anything.
When trying to find pictures I found some old ones that had barely any cat tails so they multiplied.
And knowledge or experience out there?
by marys1001
3 Comments
There are two invasive cattails in Michigan: Typha angustifolia and the hybrid of the native and invasive species. They are widespread in Michigan. Field identification of the native v. invasive v. invasive hybrid can be done but it is tricky and has been shown to be unreliable compared to genetic techniques. If you have an invasive cattail on your shoreline it is still providing habitat value. If it’s expanding and outcompeting native species on your shoreline, you could consider controlling it. Cutting stems in winter will not be effective. Regrowth in spring will be from underground rhizomes. I recommend joining the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership: https://www.shorelinepartnership.org. Great group that can provide guidance on natural shoreline management best practices.
Also you rock for keeping the shoreline natural!!
Fellow Michigander with a lakeshore wetlands and dock – I also have purple loosestrife, bonus for having phragmites and buckthorn in force too.
First off you don’t need to feel bad about a dock, lol. Humans are going to have usage for lake land, and that is perhaps the least obtrusive / damaging use, especially if you’re doing active invasive management.
Secondly you shouldn’t feel bad about having pathways through the reeds. Animals will make paths no matter what, and my recommendation is to keep the same main paths so you minimize disturbance.
Beyond that I can only recommend methods for controlling invasive species. I’d perhaps add that some good additions could be bird nesting boxes (including owls). If you need to cut reeds, you may be able to find a use for the cut material. I am reusing site material for retaining walls, elevated marsh pathways, etc.
You can dig out the loose strife, or easier for you, either backpack spray with 3%ish glyphosate or you can burn it when growing with a propane torch.
The cattail can also be sprayed and the natives will eventually return.