Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Eel grass

Does anyone have any experience introducing eelgrass into ponds. If so, what were the results?

I tried introducing spiral eel grass to my pond last year... Still trying to determine if it took hold... If I can't get it to take hold, I may try to get some normal eel grass to take hold.

I've got a question about eel grass. Does eel grass have the same growing habits as the curly leafed pondweed in regards to early spring growth, then die-off by mid summer? I see regular eel grass growing in the local lake, but by late June it's gone. I only notice it growning in shallow water, could it be the wave action from the boats that's restricting the growth?

Seasonal nature of eel grass (Vallisneria americana) is just about the opposite of curly leaf pondweed. Eel grass is a warn season plant whereas curly leaf is a cool season plant. Not sure why the plant has reduced growth in "your" lake by late June. Normally in IN it does not start growing well until June. Something is not right in your example.

Eel grass grows well in most ponds, often too well, both in hard and soft water. After messing with this plant for over ten years now, I conclude there are several species, varieties and strains of eel grass; some much better suited for ponds/lakes than others. One big disadvantage is it is hard to kill with the common herbicides; which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. Other submerged plants can be readily killed or thinned leaving behind the more desirable eel grass. Mature plants regardless of depth will send the signature flower bud to the surface in mid-late summer. These are not as dense as the bed of leaves of parent plants. For those in plant growing Zones of 6 and higher I recommend using spriral (corkscrew) eel grass which is a shorter, slower spreading variety of eel grass. This variety should rarely ever be a problem in ponds for fisheries.