Spike Rush

Eleocharis spp.

Management Options

Mechanical/Physical Control Options

Spike rushes can be cut and the rhizomes can be dug up but physical control is difficult because it can reestablish from seeds or remaining rhizomes.

Biological Control Options

There is no known biological control for spike rushes, although goats are known to forage on many types of emergent vegetation.

Chemical Control Options

The active ingredients that have been successful in treating spike rushes include diquat (G) and fluridone (G). E = excellent, G = good

Reward is a liquid diquat formulation that has been effective on spike rushes. It is a contact herbicide. Contact herbicides act quickly and kill all plants cells that they contact. A non-ionic aquatically registered surfactant (see the label) will have to be added to the Reward solution for good results.

Sonar,  Avast , and  Whitecap are floridone compounds and comes in both liquid and granular formulations, and have been effective on spike rushes. These are broad spectrum, systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action. Systemic herbicides tend to act more slowly than contact herbicides.





Cultivation Options

Spike rushes can be propagated by transplanting whole plants with rhizomes into shallow water areas during the winter or early spring.