How to Grow Small Bur-Reed

Overview

Found scattered throughout most regions of Canada and portions of the United States, the small bur-reed is considered threatened or endangered in several areas. The bur-reed, while not considered a directly beneficial plant for humans, provides food and shelter materials to birds and small mammals. Small bur-reed grows along standing water areas. To grow small bur-reed, create an aquatic environment as close to its natural habitat as possible before transplanting outdoors.

Step 1

Mark the inside of your tray with a pencil or pen at 1/2-inch intervals, starting at the bottom and working up one side of the tray. Make sure your tray has no holes in it and set it on a flat, level surface.

Step 2

Set your pots in the tray next to one another, resting flat on the bottom of the tray. Fill your pots with soil to within a 1/2-inch of the top of the pot.

Step 3

Add an inch of water to the tray and wait an hour for it to absorb into the pots. Refill the water as needed to maintain the inch depth once the soil in the pots is fully saturated.

Step 4

Plant the seeds into the pots approximately a ¼-inch deep and cover. As the seeds germinate and grow, increase the water level by adding a ½-inch more every one to two weeks to keep up with the water demands of the plants.

Step 5

Harden off the plants by placing the tray and seedlings in a cold frame during the spring and into the summer. Keep an eye on the water levels during this time to be sure the plants are always in standing water.

Step 6

Plant bur-reed plants in the summer in areas of full sun along the shallow edges of ponds or marshes. Spaced out or grouped, the plants should be in an area that isn't prone to fluctuating water conditions or drought.