Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond rake recommendations?

I'd like to rake up some of the bushy pondweed around the dock. Anybody know of a good pond weed rake?

I am not the sharpest pin in the box, so bare with me. I thought one of the ways that BPW spread through fragmentation? If I am on the right path, wouldn't cutting and raking make it spread?

You may be right, Tracy. I honestly don't know, but it could be why herbicide is recommended even for spot treatments rather than raking.

I would take that rather than spike rush/ road grass

Yeah, it could always be worse. Funny how when one problem goes away, excess clarity & feed stealing geese, another takes its place.

I am just wondering what's next? And I agree with Pat when it comes to the TFS. They will surprise you sometimes when it comes to survival. Oh ! talking of surprise, did I tell you some of my Tp survived this past winter?

Frank, I did not see an answer to your question when asking about a recommendation on what weed rake to purchase. So, I will bump this for an answer. Reason why? After purchasing Aquathol Super K to kill back some of the BPW, I read where it may be necessary to rake the dead plants after treatment. I am going to spot treat soon and I might try to rake some of the dead plants up but no way am I going to rake the whole pond when I treat a larger area when the water cools down this coming fall.

Two tools I use for raking out deeper nasty stuff. The main tool is a 36" landscape rake from the blue or orange box store, but I would make sure the rake head bolts on. I chunked the handle that came on one of mine, and replaced it with a 10' galvanized fence post. That gives me reach. The other tool is a cheap leaf net for swimming pools. I use that for shoreline FA, and any weed fragments that may break off and reroot. Nothing about it is easy, but it works well.

"Nothing is easy" Ha ha! that is what I have learned at the pond. Thanks Al. I am seeing some floating BPW mats free floating right now. Not sure if the grass carp feed on the lower portion of the plant or its the warmer water temps causing it to die back some? I did add around 4 lbs of Aquathol Super K this morning for some spot treating in three different spots, two feeder area's and around the pier. we'll see what happens next.

Tracy, that's amazing about TP survival. We did have a very mild winter, though.

I'm leaning toward lake mats to spot treat. If I use them correctly, hope to create new hotspots where predators can ambush prey. They have a 12' by 24' mat that I'd like to try, maybe have two of them side by side in the weedbed separated by five feet to make a bass cafeteria.

Frank, what's the cost for a lake mat that you described? And I am guessing it is a weighted mat? And as far as I can tell, I had at least two Tp survive the winter. But with two surviving I am guessing I had more than those two survive.

I have one of the landscape rakes from Menards - 36" wide, all aluminum with 2.5 inch teeth. I use it around the dock and a few prime fishing spots to keep the primrose in check. Works fine, but might add a rope so I can toss it out a few more feet. Herbicide is another tool I use, which is faster and less work.

Costs about 300 to 400 per mat. I ordered two.

Thanks!