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13.4.12. Control of
Phragmites or
Common Reed
Diana H. Cross and Karen L. Fleming Because waterfowl benefit from interspersion of
Office of Information Transfer phragmites with other plant species and water, we
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service do not recommend eradication of this plant from
1025 Pennock Place, Suite 212 wetlands. Instead, phragmites should be controlled
Ft. Collins, CO 80524 only to the degree necessary to achieve manage-
ment objectives. By understanding the ecology and
Phragmites, or common reed, is a perennial life history of phragmites, such control is more eas-
grass often associated with wetlands. When phrag- ily achieved.
mites is interspersed with open water or with other
vegetation, waterbirds and small mammals find
cover among the stems. Its dense root systems Ecology and Life History
strengthen dikes and roads. On many sites, how-
Phragmites has a thick stalk that can reach
ever, this robust emergent forms monotypic, impene- 13 ft (4 m) under optimal conditions. This height is
trable stands having little value for waterfowl. usually not seen until 5−8 years after estab-
Ducks occasionally nest on the edges of large lishment. The long, flat leaves spread out widely
stands, but avoid the dense interior. from the stem and are relatively broad, gradually
Phragmites is native to North America and is narrowing to a fine tip (Figure). The very high tran-
found worldwide, primarily in lowland temperate re- spiration rate of phragmites is achieved primarily
gions. Phragmites can occupy upland sites with through these leaves. The terminal flower cluster
seeps, or grow in brackish or fresh water several consists of numerous perfect flowers. These flowers,
feet deep. Large monocultures are usually associ- purplish at first, gain long, white silky hairs around
ated with impounded areas and resultant stabilized them by maturity, creating the large, plumelike
water regimes. Such sites, having levees or water- flower cluster that persists through winter.
control structures that keep large areas moist for Phragmites most often spreads vegetatively by
long periods, create ideal situations for phragmites stout, creeping rhizomes. Fragments of these rhi-
zomes are viable if they have at least two or three
to become a problem. The plants are less competi-
nodes and are 8 in. (20 cm) long. All stands have
tive when there is variation in water levels among
horizontal and vertical rhizomes, and young stands
wet and dry seasons and years. Growth is often also have long surface runners that aid rapid expan-
stunted where soil fertility is extremely high or low sion of the colony. Mature clones normally have a
or where salinity is high. Phragmites usually estab- balance of vertical and horizontal rhizomes,
lishes itself on dry borders of marshes, but fre- while colonizing clones have predominantly horizon-
quently invades shallow water foraging sites by tal rhizomes. Although these rhizomes are usually
outcompeting and subsequently replacing more de- 8−39 in. (20−100 cm) below the substrate surface,
sirable emergent plants. they can penetrate to twice that distance. Thick
Control
Control of phragmites is more easily achieved in
Figure. Phragmites australis plant (× 1⁄3), spikelet and areas where growing seasons are short and plant
floret (× 3), and rhizome. Illustration from Hitchcock growth is less vigorous. The period of vulnerability
(1950). will vary with the site and treatment. Control treat-
ments may include spraying herbicides, mowing,
discing, bulldozing, crushing, shading, dredging,
mud roots with small lateral roots that reach flooding, draining, burning, and grazing. In many
down 3 ft (1 m) or more grow from the horizontal areas, a combination of treatments is most effective.
rhizomes. Managers should consider control objectives (i.e.,
Vertical rhizomes arise from buds at nodes of containment, reduction, or elimination) and then
horizontal rhizomes. Each upright rhizome bears choose the most suitable treatment.
only one shoot the first year, up to six the second After successful treatment other plants will be-
year, and more thereafter. Vertical rhizomes also come established in areas formerly dominated by
bear roots that branch and form dense mats. phragmites. These may include many plants attrac-
Although germination from seed does occur, it tive as waterfowl food, such as wild millet, smart-
is not common. Seedling survival is low because weeds, rice cutgrass, and wild rice.
sites must remain wet, but not flooded, until seed-
lings are well established. Furthermore, until rhi-
zomes develop, seedlings are highly susceptible to
Chemical Control
frost. Several herbicides have been used on phrag-
Mature stands of phragmites are normally com- mites with varying degrees of effectiveness. Local
posed of about 8−20 shoots per square foot (80−200 conditions and regulations will influence the choice
of herbicides. Systemic herbicides are most effective ment, as well. The second dose should be applied
if applied to actively growing plants, when sugars 15−30 days after the first.
are being translocated from the leaves to the rhi- Size, accessibility, and proximity of phragmites
zomes. On moderately wet sites, the period of opti- stands to other vegetation or wetlands dictates the
mal control occurs from full growth to early fruiting. most appropriate application technique. Regardless
Aerial application of chemicals should never be un- of method, herbicides must be applied at the dosage
dertaken until after waterfowl have completed nest- prescribed on the label for maximum effectiveness.
ing activities because of possible overdrift. In areas On smaller beds, backpack spray equipment is suffi-
cient. If areas are very large or are inaccessible
with long, hot summers, spraying may be done as
from the ground, aerial spraying by an experienced
late as mid-September.
helicopter pilot is suggested. A marker system
Chemical control of phragmites has been
should be in place before flying transects to main-
achieved most frequently with amitrole, dalapon,
tain a reference point when the tank is refilled. For
and glyphosate (Table). These herbicides are ab- best results, the same area should be sprayed in 2
sorbed by the foliage and are translocated to the rhi- successive years, then spot-treated as necessary
zomes. If the dosage is too concentrated, top kill thereafter. Infrared photographs of treated areas
may occur before the herbicide can be translocated are helpful in locating any missed spots. Equipment
to the rhizome and treatment will not be effective. used for aerial spraying must be free of leaks and
Care should be taken not to break stems during have complete cut-off capabilities to prevent treat-
treatment, as this would also prevent the herbicide ment of nontarget areas. The cost of aerial spraying
from reaching the rhizomes. in the late 1980’s varied from $30 to $50 per acre;
Amitrole may be used to effectively control some refuges have taken advantage of State cost-
phragmites on flooded and dry sites. Neither sharing programs or made agreements with the
dalapon nor glyphosate (as Rodeo, the formulation highway department to reduce costs.
approved in most States for use in wetlands) are as
effective on flooded sites, but they will produce re-
sults on moist or dry sites. Rodeo can also be effec- Mechanical Control
tive when sprayed on senescing shoots during late Mechanical control is difficult, but possible on
fall. Several researchers have found that split appli- sites that are flooded or consistently moist. A
cations (at 1/2 the dosage) work better than a sin- "cookie cutter" or rotary ditch digger can be used in
gle, full-strength application. This treatment flooded areas to chop through rhizome-packed sub-
method is likely to be less stressful to the environ- strates, creating openings in dense stands. On