I have smartweed infesting a 1+ acre pond in central Texas. The pond is healthy with a good fish population. The smartweed grew to 10 ft. wide in some areas. I sprayed the leaf tops with 2-4-D + surfactant, which has been effective at controlling the spread. I do this in 15 ft. sections at a time, to minimize the 2-4-D impacts. I have also physically removed large swaths of weed using cables and a Ranger. I did this to remove the biomass from the pond. I have 2 other ponds where I may need to take similar actions. My questions: Is 2-4-D as good as anything to chemically remove the smartweed? Is the physical removal necessary/beneficial? Does anyone have other tips to consider?

Welcome to the forums LWE!

The only tips I can offer are...

1.) To check out this recent thread for herbicide conversations...

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=507007&page=1

2.) Consider getting a decent sized back hoe or track hoe in there and dig out your banks so that they are not so shallow. The smartweed around my pond does not get into water deeper than a foot or so. Digging your shoreline deeper will limit it's preferred living environment and remove some of the nutrient laden soils that it is currently enjoying.

3.) Physical remove is a good thing. Leaving the biomass in the pond just adds to the nutrients that promote plant life and ultimately algae growth.

In the big picture, smartweed is not anywhere near the worst plant to have too much of. My low-experience pond mind says you can spray-kill the stuff for years to come or change the environment so that they don't like it there anymore (this does not meean something else won't take it's place).

I love your pond settig and you have come to the right place for your pond questions.

Many thanks. I will look into reshaping the bank slopes.

I will keep working on this dual prong approach. Good to hear that it's not too bad of a pest weed. I was a little concerned at how much it grew last year when pond levels dropped so much. But it does seem to give good habitat for the lower end of the food chain. We will keep after it. Thx.

Heck I am looking for smartweed to transplant i to my pond. Ducks love it.

The key to growing smartweed is to bring your water level down and to get it sprouted and then give it enough time to get it going on the exposed bare bank. Once it's going, slowely bring the water level back up without completely submerging it. The submerged portions make great YOY fish habitat. Last year I had a ring of smartweed growing in 24" to 30" of water all the way around my pond. I went in and pulled some of it by hand but left most of it. It was looking like I was going to repeat it again this year but heavy rains brought my water level up to fast.