Re: Winter Plant

Deborah Howard wrote:
>
> <: }  is cat tail a good plant for those of us in the colder zones??  Haven't
> noticed them growing along the road, but then don't really pay
> attention........  As I have read the posts,  the word bog has gone by
> several times, does that mean they like a more wet location?  I do have a
> sunny area that tends to be wet


Hi Deborah,

Yes, cattails are very winter hardy...to at least zone 3.  Cattails like
moisture and will grow where it is wet to where they are standing in
upto several inches of water.  The large cattails I have in my pond are
in 6-8 inches of water.  I just leave them there during the winter and
they freeze solid...does not phase them!  Usually I have to discard 1/3
or more each spring to keep them in check.  The dwarf cattails that I
grow in container water gardens are treated the same way, except they
only need 1-3 inches of water.

One thing about growing cattails (and other hollow stemmed plants) in
water...after they die back in winter, never cut them off so they are
completely submerged or they will die!

Unless you only want cattails in your wet area, I would not plant them
directly into the ground.  They will take over fast.  I would try to
keep them contained somehow as other were discussing.

Good luck!

Josh
Iowa
z4


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  ~~~      In The Country Garden & Gifts       ~~~
      Specializing in Hostas and Water Gardens
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