Reed clearance

[Stihlben]

Hi, i have been contact acted by a local nursing home about clearing the majority of dead reed material from a lake at the rear of the home and am just gathering ideas on the best way of carrying out the work. There is no access for a long reach machine to the site and I don't particularly fancy getting too wet and cold at this time of year.... Any suggestions?

I'll be back on site later to take some pictures later aswell

[HCR]

Reed as in Phragmites? The dead material is just that, so unless you remove the rhizomes it will be back as plentifully as ever by summer (which you probably already know...)

 

If the water is shallow, a twin-wheeled allen scythe could work.

 

If you really want to rip it out and can't get near it with a 360, a crome and a lot of sweat might be the only way. Just don't expect to be welcome on public transport afterwards

 

If it's reed-mace (Typha latifolia) the best way might be to get in and pull it up by hand. Wet and messy, but relatively easy and effective.

[bradshaw groundcare]

this is a pond we do once/twice a year. Its clay lined, some one in the past has used a 360 and took a lot of the clay out. we pull it out buy hand trying to tease as much root as possible but it always comes back.

 

before

 

 

after

Edited February 13, 2013 by bradshaw groundcare

[ChrisG]

If it's just dead material, get the chest waders on and just drag it out.

If they want the rhizomes removing, you have a job on your hands, as previously mentioned, chromes, sweat and a change of clothes would be needed. If it's a big reed bed, you could think about getting in a contractor to scoop out material from a specialy designed machine, check out Aquaclear for some ideas ;-)

 

Spraying towards the end of the season when it is dying back will take chem into the rhizomes, but then your into licenses for spraying on watercourses depending on where the pond lies and repeat treatments will be necessary.

 

Hope this helps

[Stihlben]

Looks like its a wader job then.... Going to be cold as the client wants it done next week.

[Guss109]

How about a cheap wet suit or a dry bag at least that way youl be warm

[Boy English]

is it not deep enough for a small row boat?? my mates got an old waterways reed cutting boat for bigger jobs.. i would be tempted to get an old long handled hedge cutter and a rowing boat.. one punt the boat and one cut..

[csservices]

Dont know if it would work on them but on an estate I used to help on we had an old two man saw about 2-3ft long and it had had a hole drilled just above the teeth and rope tied through, this was thrown into the lake and then pulled back to clear pond weed, it would cut it and drag it in one go

[highland dave]

You could try using a manure drag there are various makes available depending on length of arm to depth of pocket ratio. Probably best not to use one if you're in an inflatable.

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napalm?