Controlling cattails

Q.  I have a pond with too many cattails . What is the best way to control them?

 A.   If it is a private pond, you can treat the cattails with an aquatic herbicide. They can be manually pulled out and cut back regularly to stress them.

 Q.  I will be making an elevated plant bed by stacking railroad ties. Will they harm the plants?

 A.  Creosote from the railroad ties can be a concern. It the ties have been sitting out, there should be no problem. Only fresh ties might leach some residue that could burn plant roots.