FAQ's & How To's

Reed canary grass is one of the hardest grasses to deal with in prairie and wetland restoration. The first step is to set realistic expectations. In wet areas, drainageways, creek bottoms, and places connected to floodwater, complete eradication may not be realistic. Reed canary spreads aggressively by seed and rhizomes, and flood events can bring new seed right back into a site even after years of work. If reed canary is growing in an upland area where equipment access is safe and there is no standing water, removal is more realistic. Repeated herbicide applications may be needed, often using different products and timings. Glyphosate and grass-selective herbicides such as clethodim may play a role, but label restrictions, residual activity, water proximity, and timing all matter. Always follow the label and be especially careful around water. In wet sites, chemical control can be legally and practically difficult. Many herbicides cannot be applied to standing water, and equipment access may be unsafe. Some managers use repeated burning followed by grazing pressure, but that also requires the right site, timing, and commitment. One treatment will not solve reed canary. Any serious attempt usually takes multiple years and repeated pressure. The most important point is this: if you remove reed canary, you must plan to replant or encourage desirable competition. Do not assume that killing it will automatically bring sedges, rushes, wetland flowers, and native grasses back. In many places, the native seed bank is depleted or the reed canary has been dominant too long. Sometimes the best strategy is containment and habitat redesign. If reed canary has ruined a low wet area for wildlife cover, expanding prairie around it may provide better habitat than spending endless time fighting a losing battle in the wettest ground. Manage what is realistic, restore what you can, and do not be discouraged if reed canary takes repeated attempts.