Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Hydrilla should be a four letter word

I bought a pond about 8 months ago and discovered last month that I am the proud owner of tons of hydrilla.

Pond stats: the pond is in Northern California, is a little over 3 acres, has a maximum depth of 17-18 feet but probably averages 5-8 feet (I haven't done a scientific average depth calculation). Once the hydrilla became obvious it had covered about 50% of the total pond.

I manually have removed a bunch of it using a purchased rake and one that I have created. I know that this isn't the best method since the hydrilla fractures and can regrow but I was desparate.

The hydrilla seems to have died back quite a bit in the last month or so, possibly from the excessive heat we have been getting, I am not sure.

I have read about using a combo of Cutrine Plus and Weedtrine D and Cide Kick II.

My questions are this...

(1) Has anyone else used this combo and what sucess did they have?

(2) Is there something that would work better than this combo?

(3) Is there a particular season of the year that this should be applied?

Help, I'm drowning in hydrilla!!!!

Yes, there is a much better treatment. The products you have chosen will only "burn" the plants back. If you were to choose this treatment, you should substitute Reward for the Weedtrine (Weedtrine is a watered down version of Reward).
I would suggest Sonar being used instead of the products you have mentioned. This is a systemic product that will kill the entire plant. It is expensive, but worth the price.
Are you sure you have hydrilla? This is a rare find since California has a very aggressive treatment program when it comes to hydrilla. If you think it is hydrilla, you should bring this to the attention of the state for proper identification.

We succesfully rid of 25 acres of hyrdrilla in 350 acre lake in a two year process.

Combo per acre:
2 gals reward, 1/2 gal surfactnat, 1 gal Komeen, grass carp 800 1st year and 400 2nd year.

It is important to know what the government will say and do before you involve them or let them know who or where you are or that your property is involved. That goes double for Calif. :rolleyes:

PondsRx, well not I am not sure. After looking at some photos of different weeds the only thing I am sure of is that I am not sure of what I have. It could be Common Elodea. I will have to get a sample and look at it more carefully. I didn't realize that the plants looked so similar. Would the treatment for the two plants be the same or different?

Greg, that's good news. I wish I could get grass carp but from what I have been reading they are very restricted in California.

Ewest, very true. Being a native Californian I have come to realize one thing... California is much like your typical breakfast cereal, it is chock full of fruits, nuts and flakes. (And they all want to regulate you to death)