Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Help, plant; Green leaves, small blue flowers

Don't have a picture with me, but will post one when they come up this year. I have been fighting a perimeter weed on my 6 acre pond. Grows around entire pond in 12"-18" or less of water. Grows up to waist high, green leaves with small blue flowers and small thorns.

Any ideas would be appreciated, and I realize this would be much easier with pictures. From what I have found on the internet, it resembles Creeping Water Primrose, but not yellow flowers.

It makes it quite difficult for the kiddo's to fish from the fact that it creates a barrier, it has thorns, and it is chock ablock with chiggers!!!

Wondering if grass carp might be some help with a perimeter plant that grows in 12-18" of water?

Aquatic roundup will kill it, but comes back. Looking to get away from chemicals as much as possible (as is everyone).

Won't do anything until I get a positive ID.

Again, any help appreciated.

Doc

WAG, but it sounds like waterleaf.

Waterleaf

Little known fact here, although not really relevant..I spent 2 years in Gordonville TX while working at Cedar Mills Marina and of course my time off was spent on the waters around there, daily. I quickly noted there are plants of varieties that seem to come out of nowhere down there in a matter of days. You guys have a very diverse universe down there and I don't know how you keep the bad separate from the good, plant-wise..

Doc, is it possible to use goats to thin this plant? They do an amazing job cleaning up many types of brushy/thorny vegetation.

THanks FireIsHot,

I think that is it!! Will do some studying up on it.. Unfortunately, no on the goats. THanks.

Doc

PS, always love to see this;

2. Biological Management Options
At this time, there are no known biological controls for waterleaf; although, goats are known to forage on many types of emergent vegetation.

Doc, once you get a few pics posted, we'll verify what plant it is. I've been there done that with waterleaf, and I'm hoping for your sake, it's something else. Treatment must be very aggressive to totally eliminate the plant and its offshoots.

IIRC, waterleaf pops up a little later than most emergents, so the plant should be confirmable by late April or early May at the latest.

CMM, my goats won't touch waterleaf, but they may be a tad spoiled.

Spoiled goats, spoiled fish, spoiled dogs.... I get it. I even spoil my husband every now and again. I have never asked him to eat waterleaf though.