Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Avoiding Algaecides while establishing plants

In 2012 I renovated an old 1 acre pond which filled with water in 2013. I spent most of 2013 trying to manage the algae growth. I plan to add a number of aquatic plans in coming weeks but I am concerned about the use of any chemicals (Reward, Cutrine, etc) this year while the plants are being established along the shoreline.

Is it better to allow the algae to grow while the plants are rooting, perhaps for the entire year, or should I continue to apply the chemicals. The goal is to avoid killing all those young plants (Pickerelweed, Blue Iris, Sweet Flag, Arrow Arrum, Duck Potato). Would the answer depend on type of algae? Last year I had quite a bit of filamentous algae requiring multiple applications to control.

Thanks in advance for advice!

FA utilized nutrients that other plants can utilize. If FA grows dense enough, it will float up from the bottom and create a dense mat on the surface, blocking off sunlight to the pond bottom. No sunlight = no plants.

The chemicals that are used to control algae don't affect vascular plants, but I've observed burned spots on arrowhead leaves from concentrated Cutrine plus droplets. Just manage your spray droplets and try to avoid contacting the emergent plants when spraying in shallow water.

Reward isn't used for algae control....... So, it will harm the vascular plants.

I only use Cutrine Plus liquid and granules or Cutrine Ultra for an algaecide.

As the plants become more established there should be less and less FA each year. If not your pond still has excess nutrients and more rooted plants are needed.

esshup...have you seen any Cutrine Ultra in granular form yet?

if not....do you know or think that is something they may offer in the future?

I haven't and I doubt it. They call it Ultra because it has a surfactant mixed in it already. As far as I know it's only available in liquid form, and here's the kicker. It can't be UPS'd (because of the surfactant in it is what I was told). Now get this - you can ship Cutrine Plus, and Cide-kick. Sometimes I just don't understand some regulations.

The UPS restriction on CUTRINE ULTRA is due to the container-size (it's only available in 2.5-gal containers). Same restriction applies to 2.5-gal jugs of CUTRINE PLUS, but not to 1-gal jugs.
One can ship a 4x1 gal case of CUTRINE PLUS on UPS, but not a single 2.5-gal jug. Don't we all feel safer now!!

Thanks very much for the prompt feedback/answers to my question.

What can I do/use for pond where the water temps are still in 40's (no ice though) and I'm already starting to get pretty good growth of FA algae? Seems when I manually remove it stirs up the good ole nutrients in the water and the FA bloom really takes off, at least last spring that is what I experienced. Thanks in advance.

See my reply to the OP for the answer (2nd post in the thread).

Hello esshup, I've read many of your posts...

The comment "I only use Cutrine Plus liquid and granules or Cutrine Ultra for an algaecide"... is it effective in these water temps? I thought I read somewhere Cutrine is not effective until water temps are above 60 degrees, hopefully I'm mis-informed and could begin using it now.

Thanks again in advance for your input.

Ron

I'll go test an area in my pond this morning and report back. My gut feeling is that if the FA is actively growing, then it will work, but since I've never used it in that water temp I hesitate to give an answer. I'll let you know in a few days.

I put in a bunch of plants last year about mid summer when I thought my FA had bloomed and died out. I never saw much of it anyway. The FA bloomed? I guess and choked out almost all of the plants. I have a few left but not many. When I saw choked out, I mean that the FA mat had floated to the plants and pretty much coated the ones at the waterline. Some of the pondweed I think will make it.

esshup - Thanks for doing some testing and I look forward to your observations.

I spot sprayed some FA near shore in my pond that afternoon (Friday) and when I looked at those areas yesterday the FA was turning white. So, even in cooler waters the Cutrine Plus works.

Appreciate your feedback, I'll try some now too and hopefully get same results. One follow-up question though... do you see better results with the liquid or granular form... my thought is the granular might be better for FA that is beginning to form on the bottom and hasn't floated to the top yet... Thanks again.

That depends on water depth and water movement (if any) in the pond. Personal "rule of thumb" here. Water depth 0" to 24" liquid. Over 24" depth granular.

If wind is moving water in shallower water, I might use granules instead. It's a seat of the pants thing tho.....

esshup, thanks again for your input and feedback. Put some granular down today since the FA I see starting to grow is still on the bottom even in the shallower water. The good news is so far there appears to be less of a FA bloom than last season. I attribute it to the vertex aeration and my manual cleaning up off fallen leaves and FA from last season.

Take care,
Ron