Christmas is upon us! I hope you all have a merry family filled Christmas weekend. Please take some time for yourself, sit back and look at the wonderful gifts that surround you. Not only on Christmas day, but every day leading up to and following this love filled time. Lets get to the meat of this blog, talk about landscaping and get back to family. This weeks Plant of the Week is a water loving perennial that is a staple in almost any pond, the Cattail.
Why Use Cattails in Your Landscaping?
There are many reasons to plant Cattail in natural ponds, as well as man made. They have tall spikes adorned with the characteristic brown top and long leaves which add height and texture to a landscape. Their presence is a source of food for animals, provides shelter for both fish and mammals alike and has provided humans with materials for hundreds of years. Needless to say, this plant is a wonderful source of functionality and beauty. Cattails will attract wildlife to you, making your landscaping a living, moving space. Maintenance includes, cutting back the tops of each spike and potentially digging up sections of this tenacious plant. However, this maintenance can be cut back significantly with pots, making Cattails far more manageable.
Where to Use Cattails in Your Landscaping?
Cattails must be planted in an area that is constantly wet. I use these in almost every pond, creek or bog installation Eagleson Landscape Co. designs and creates. A man made water feature instantly transforms into a wild space when plant life, like the Cattail, is introduce to the landscape. However, I always plant Cattail in pots in order to keep it from spreading and overtaking the water feature. Tuck this into crevices and turns throughout the pond and make sure you account for its height. I will also use Cattails in wetlands or bogs as a way to filter water and add interest to the space. There is really not a bad location to utilize this plant, just make sure to keep it under control!!
What Does Eagleson Landscape Co. Think?
This plant is a staple in the world of water and for good reason. They are a wonderful source of aesthetics and utility, making for a plant that provides the full gambit in the landscape. However, when not kept on Cattails can quickly becoming a landscaping nightmare and a maintenance headache. Proper care will keep this from becoming reality, but I will still deduct a grade point and give Cattails a B+ grade. I will continue to use and enjoy this water loving perennial and encourage you to look into it more here! Have a very merry Christmas!!
