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Shallow freshwaters release large amounts of greenhouse gases. These shallow waterbodies are often dominated by submersed plants, yet the role these plants have in affecting greenhouse gas release is unclear. We conducted a 2-months experiment to determine the effects of a submersed plant on two greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide. We manipulated the number of plants (plant density) and measured gas release, gas concentrations in the water, plant growth, and several characteristics of water chemistry. When plants were most dense, we observed the greatest release of methane and carbon dioxide, likely due to competition and plant die-off. Our results show the importance of plant growth and density on greenhouse gases.