Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Wow my arms are aching!

Even hurts to use the keyboard!

I've got a heavy infestation of some type of pond weed that grows to a depth of six to seven feet to the surface mixed with Sago Pond weed. Covers about 50 pecent of the pond.

I've been cutting and raking but this will be the last year! It's so thick the blade just boggs down.

Aquashade seems to work for a while but it gets expensive keeping the water dyed enough to impede it's growth. I go through a gallon every month and a half in this .62 acre pond. If I didn't know any better I'd think Aquashade isn't what it used to be.

I guess I'll be going the herbicide route next year or a Jensen Lake mower. Just wish sonar wasn't so expensive!

Tried grass carp once. They liked the pellets better.

Using a weedrazor? That will wear you flat out.

Yes! It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't so much of the weeds.

Actually I know this stuff will just die and fall to the bottom soon but I don't want it to decompose on the bottom.

I've got a razor, maybe used it twice. A neighbor used it on his pond also. The rest of the time it's gathered dust, as I didn't recognize or fully understand it's primary function, plant species wise.

A sharp weed razor works great on cattails after they turn brown from treating with a herbicide. Slices them right off very cleanly.

That's really where they shine, when used against a plant with a stalk, or somewhat rigid stem. Something slender and flexible, like the pondweeds, just seem to get ripped out rather than cut. In hindsight, I should've envisioned that tendency.

You got that right!

Cecil,

It may be beyond your fiscal reaches, but ...

A small excavator or a small diesel tractor with a frame-mount backhoe and a 36-inch bucket can do miracles for getting rid of a lot of the nasties. I have a little 20 hp diesel tractor with a backhoe that does incredible work. The bucket can reach 16-17 feet.

For several years I had two excavating companies storing equipment at our place when they were working in our area. In exchange, they sure took care of me. A couple of the pieces they regularly stored were small rubber-track excavators that had about a 20 foot reach. I had full use of them when they were here. They aren't too much more complicated to operate than a zero-turn mower plus a kid's video game.

Ken,

That's within my fiscal reach but the problem is these pond weeds go out about 50 feet from shore in some places. I thought they were Lesser Pond weed (Potomogeton pussilis) mixed in with Sago, but I'm not so sure as the literature says they don't grow in water deeper than 3 or 4 feet. These are growing in 6 to 7 feet of water all the way to the surface.

I'll have to post some pictures and see what the heck they are.

The easiest way to keep it from growing next year will be some form of Sonar. I've used it before and it worked quite well. Just wish the corp that makes it and has sole control over the supply wasn't such a gouger.

I love the control I get by using Sonar. No weeds for a couple years.

If Fluridone is applied at the right time (Before that current crop of plants drops seeds) the control will be longer, such as Sprkplug is seeing than if the weeds are treated after they drop their seeds.

Also, if the pond is older and has a large seed bank in the pond bottom, it might take treating it a few years in a row to get the seed bank depleted - just like a savings account. Take money out without putting more back, it doesn't last as long....