Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Another "what weed is this?" question....

I have a weed getting started the past few years that I have been unable to kill or ID. I did not find this weed in my copy of "How to ID and Control Water Weeds and Algae". I am hoping a resident weed expert can lend a hand.

This weed is rooted in the pond bottom and pulls out very easily. It typically grows in 3 to 8 feet of water, reaching the surface and the spreading out on the surface of the pond.

I have sprayed it with Nautique and a Nautique/Reward Mix while in the water. As the pond drops during the Summer months and some of the weed is laying on the exposed mud, I have sprayed it with a Glyphosate based product called Touchdown Pro. It does not seem to be affected by these chemicals.

Hope the photos are high enough quality to allow for an ID. I haven't figured out how to add my photos along with my text, so they are attached. Thanks in advance for any help with this weed.

Looks like torpedograss

To have a picture show up in a post you need to find an on-line hosting spot, like Photobucket, then copy/paste the direct link and it'll show up here.

Thank you, Kelly. I just did some reading on this weed, now that you have identified it for me. It reminds me a lot of Bermuda Grass and I read that it is referred to as "coastal Bermuda Grass" by some people. It has really taken off in the past two seasons as a result of the APW being greatly reduced in our ponds.

From what I read, Glyphosate may be the chemical of choice. Anyone have any suggestions on how to best kill/control Torpedo Grass? Thank you for the help.

Esshup, thanks for the direction on being able to have a photo included in a post. I will give that a try next time I attempt to post a photo.

As you've already discovered, NAUTIQUE/REWARD isn't effective on this plant. Although REWARD might provide a temporary chemical-mowing effect - it certainly won't kill torpedograss.
Glyphosate will likely do a fair/decent job - depending on how much healthy leaf-surface has emerged above the water's surface.
I'm hesitant to suggest anything in CA due to heavy regulations. But, if I was battling torpedograss here, I'd turn to one of the aquatic imazapyr products (several brands exist), along with a methylated seed-oil (MSO) surfactant.

I second Kelly's imazapyr w/surfactant. Great results on torpedo grass.

Thanks to both Kelly and Wade. I did some reading just now on the imazapyr chemical you both recommended and I learned that a product called Habitat is both amazapyr-based and is legal in CA (wonder of wonders). The surfactant I currently use, Cygnet Plus, is a methylated seed-oil surfactant.


Again, many thanks. Your help is greatly appreciated.