Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Alligator Weed!!!!!!!!!!!

Im pretty sure what i have in my pond is alligator weed. Its a small pond and its all around the banks. I cant seem to find much info on killilng/preventing it. Im in South Louisiana. Any help Plz!!!

42 oz Habitat herbicide in 50 gal water per acre. Be sure to use a good surfactant, I prefer a product called LI 700. We spray hundreds of acres of alligator weed every year and this combination works.

I'd agree on the use of imazapyr for alligator weed, but question any merits specific to LI-700. What does it offer that isn't readily provided by a high-quality methylated seed oil (MSO) surfactant?

I have absolutely nothing to gain from anyone using LI 700. But, we've done trials comparing several different mso surfactants and the LI 700 seems to provide better herbicide penetration and faster plant response, especially late season when the plants start to harden off.

Any insinuations were unintended; and I certainly recognize dfarm's indifference on this subject. However, I'm familiar with many types and brands of adjuvants, and was simply curious why one particular brand was deemed more suitable than others.

Having worked with imazapyr since its registration in the late 80's (originally known as Arsenal), I've noted that this herbicide chemistry usually performs quite well with a variety of MSO adjuvants; granted, possibly better with some brands more so than others, depending on the targeted weed-specie.

With imazapyr, a faster visual-response doesn't necessarily benefit this herbicide's mode-of-action (ALS inhibition). Although other herbicides and/or adjuvants may provide faster visual responses, the "long-term" outcome of such treatments may be of lesser benefit in comparison to treatments that perform relatively slowly.

Personally, I encourage adding a high-quality MSO adjuvant to ALL imazapyr treatments; specifically one that miximizes leaf-cuticle infiltration while retarding spray-deposition evaporation and avoiding leaf-tissue damage/dessication. In some instances, MSO/organo-silicone "combo-adjuvants" are preferable when treating weeds that possess hairy or extra-waxy leaf-surfaces.

Due to my business affiliation, I intentionally refrain from recommending specific brands within this forum - since doing so would convey a self-interest bias. However, your brand-name reference certainly doesn't fall within this category.

Nevertheless, if you stay aboard this forum long enough (that's an invitation, btw ), you might be surprised at the commercially-motivated posts that pop up from time to time.

Echo the merits of Habitat on AW. Funny, have seen more AW this spring than normal for our area. Only MSO adjuvant used so don't have anything to offer on adjuvant comparisons.

Thank you guys, just wondering what is a surfacant; and where's a good place to purchase these two products?

"The primary purpose of a surfactant or �surface active agent� is to reduce the surface tension of the spray solution to allow more intimate contact between the spray droplet and the plant surface. Any substance that brings a pesticide into closer contact with the leaf surface has the potential to aid absorption.
Surface tension is a measure of the surface energy in terms of force measured in dynes/cm. Water has a surface tension of 73 dynes/cm. Surfactants lower the surface tension of water to that of an oil or solvent, which spreads more readily than water on plant surfaces. Surfactants typically lower the surface tension of a solution to between 30 and 50 dynes/cm." TEXT SOURCE

You can find some at Tractor Supply and there are probably a dozen suppliers who are forum members who can also provide it.