Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants What about shore weeds?

I have an area around one of the ponds that has a lot of miscellaneous shore weeds that look bad and need to be cleaned out. I am told you cannot use Roundup near a pond. What can you use around the shore to clean it up?

I used the search function and was surprised to find nothing on the subject.

This is just my opinion ... 24D works on broadleaf plants & it's cheap. Roundup active ingredient is glyfossate which I don't think will harm anything around your pond if used properly.

However, ANY herbicide you use should have a surfactant that is ok to use in a pond. I believe it's the surfactant in Roundup that can cause harm & IIRC it harms reptiles.
But I may be wrong. Hang around & someone that knows will reply.

Glyphosate is safe around water but Roundup is NOT! The surfactants in this formulation of glyphosate are toxic to aquatic organisms like fish. Rodeo is the proper glyphosate formulation for around water. Use Roundup around water at your own risk and against label recommendations. You should be able to find specimen labels online.

Mik, do you have a tractor or ATV?

My approach is to clamp an 8 or 9' pole to my tractor. I wrap old bath towels around the end of the pole, leaving them hanging down about a foot. I saturate the towels with strong glyphosate solution (or use any herbicide you wish). Drive around the pond, dragging the towels over the weed tops.

Using this method, your grass is spared, and you get practically zero chemical in your water. 3 applications a year will keep you weed free year around. It takes less herbicide than spraying, too.

If your just after broadleaves, 2,4-D is a good choice. It does not affect established grass plants.

No ATV unfortunately. Actually these plants are growing up through rip-rap,a nd I want to kill all of them.

The combo of AquaPro (Glyphosate) + Cide-kick (water safe surfactant) is an EPA approved method for controlling shoreline weeds. No Fishing, NO Swimming, & No Drinking restrictions. Go at a rate of 8oz of AquaPro + 4 oz of Cide-Kick + 2 gallons of water. Remember since this is a contact herbicide what you spray is what you control. Shoreline weeds in check can be a good buffer zone. Good luck.

Thanks, Riley. I personally like the idea of a buffer, but these ponds have to look good for the residents.

Avocet PLX is another glyphosate solution that has the aquatic surfactant blended into the product so there is no mixing. As long as most of the plant is above the water line, glyphosate should work.

I have used Touchdown Pro (from Syngenta) with very good results. It is also a glyphosate product and is not toxic to frogs, fish, etc. I use it around our ponds for everything: weeds,sedges,willows, blackberries, black oak, cattails. I have used it for four season now and feel it is an excellent product.