Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations lilly pads

I am a new land owner. I have 3 ponds on my property. Each pond has varying degrees of coverage of lilly pads. They died back in the winter, but are returning in force this spring. I want to treat them myself. Can anyone tell me the best product with which to treat them. I do have a sprayer available to me if one is needed.

thanks,
Irv

navigate should control them , i don't know about killing them off. you need to check with your fish and game people about restrictions before using. not cheap stuff. i'm sure one of pro's jump in. thats why you need to put them in containers and have control over them and maintain. my friend has pond covered in them, he's having the pond bottom cleaned out to try to get rid of them. lucky it's only bout 1/2 acre and track hoe can do it.

I have had good success with Reward. It is rather expensive, but it is labeled for aquatic use and really knocks back the lily pads.

The question you have to answer is control or eliminate. You can do both. Navigate will work. This is a systemic herbicide that will take up to 30 days to control. Reward is a contact herbicide that burns the plant tissue and is a short term control method. If elimination is what you are looking for, I suggest using Sonar. It comes in liquid and pellet formulations. It also is a systemic and will kill root and all.

I used Sonar on my 3 1/2 acre pond which had a heavy lily pad problem and it killed them all, along with all the coontail and Eurasian milfoil.
In short it cleaned my pond out of all vegetation which happens to be what I wanted because it was a mess. I highly recommend it. Be careful though because massive plant kills result in heavy nutrient release and could cause fish kills. Reward works pretty well on water lilies in local areas. You have to use a sticking agent and high concentrations to overcome the waxy barrier on the leaves so that it will be absorbed(Reward is basically Roundup by the way).

With all due respect, REWARD and ROUNDUP are completely different chemistries that have distinctly different modes-of-action.
As PondRX indicated, REWARD rapidly destroys "contacted" plant tissue - and ONLY the portions of the plant's tissue that it contacts, so thorough contact is absolutely required. ROUNDUP/RODEO/AQUAMASTER and other formulations of glyphosate are systemic herbicides (meaning that they're absorbed and translocated within the plant's vascular system). Glyphosate herbicides impact enzymes that are only found in plants, inhibiting their production of necessary amino acids, thus causing susceptable plants to essentially starve to death - rather slowly.
NAVIGATE and AQUA-KLEEN (Granular 2,4-D formulations) are state limited-use in Texas. Though they're a consideration, an applicators license is required to purchase these types of products in Texas.
SONAR is definitely effective on lilies, but isn't normally used for such unless there are other species that also need to be controlled (as with Mr. Runkle).
There are a few other products available for consideration. But, water-uses and the ultimate objectives certainly play a vital part of the product-selection process.

is it correct to say that if i put lilly pads in containers they will not grow out of control.if so, i would like to have SOME.if they over time get out then i think i will stay away.thanks

lilies are perennials and require maintenance and fertilizer for nice plants. you can buy once a season spikes. they are only good for a pond if keep under control. they keep the pond cool by shading the shallow water. give cover for fish, attract bugs for fish to eat. put in mesh basket containers with pea gravel instead of dirt, they can get plenty of nutrients from the water. they live on the nutrients in the water , not the dirt , therefore they help clean the water of excessive nutrients. you have to remove dead leaves and flowers , just like ground perennials for nice healthy plants.there are pruners so you can do it from shore. every fall cut them back and check the container for crowding of the rhizome, if so , divide and replant. i planted 12 of them from walmart , 5 bucks a piece and their all growing great , can't wait for the flowers lol

Hey Kelly,
Is that a smallie you're holding in your profile pic?

Yes, caught on the Susquehanna River - outside of Harrisburg PA.