Controlling Parrot Feather

[Big Lou]

Last time I planted parrot feather it literally covered the entire pond. I need suggestions about how to limit this plants area in the pond.

 

[HARO]

A normal garden rake, Lou. Just pull it out and compost it.
John

 

[j.w]

Wish I had that problem Lou! Was yours planted in soil?

 

[Big Lou]

At the time there was far too much leave muck. Every square inch was covered by PF's.

 

[addy1]

Just yank it out, I never get that much in the big pond, just a little here and there.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

I love the parrots feather but never had too much. I just tie a bunch together with fishing line and attach a fishing sinker to it to hold it down in the water.

Curious to know if it does better in soil?

 

[HARO]

Parrot feather prefers some soil to root in to start it off.
John

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Thanks John
I will have to try that this year.

 

[addy1]

My parrots feather grows out of the pond into the ground now and then.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I think when I head out to my nearest pond place this Spring, I'll have to see if they have Parrots feather. Anything that spreads sounds good to me!

 

[addy1]

If they don't I usually have extra

 

[Mmathis]

Is it best to pull it out or cut it off? When I pull it out, seems it takes a lot of other rooted plants with it, but when I cut it off, all of its old root systems stay and that gets unsightly.

 

[HARO]

In the small pond at work, I always cut off the growing end, put it back in the water, then pull out the other 4 or 5', which usually has very little vegetation left on it.
John

 

[j.w]

Holy bajooka Haro............your parrot's feather grows 4 or 5'? Mine is wimpy compared to yours!

 

[HARO]

This is in a pond in a greenhouse, and it's not unusual for this plant to grow 4' in a month. This is the first winter that the PF has actually been damaged by the cold. I was in earlier today to clean up the pond a bit, and ALL the PF above the water was so dry and brittle that it literally turned to dust when I grabbed it! Everything UNDER the water, however, is bright green and growing. A week or two back, I checked the water temperature, and it was 38 F.
John