Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Yellow Primrose control...

I'm looking for suggestions on controlling yellow primrose. I'm not trying to eradicate but it is getting out of hand really quickly and I need to slow it down significantly. I've done some mechanical removal but am not getting quite the cleanout I want.
I read through the TAMU and recognize some of the herbicides they recommend.... Here's the catch, I have water lilies that I DO NOT want to kill.
Obviously, I should avoid getting any chemicals directly on the lilies and watch my wind drift, but I'm not sure how close I can spray to them without worrying about spread through the water?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff-

Goats.

Too much of a non-specific herbicide...
They will eat my primrose, lilies, dock, canoe, old tires, garden tools, engine parts...

If you use a glyphosate based product that is rated for pond use, once the herbacide hits the water it becomes inert. Depending on how large of a stand it is, you could use a pump up tank sprayer and set the spray on "coarse" to minimize wind drift.

2-4D will do a great job killing it also. Its not the best chemical around ponds though. Ester based 2-4D will break down quicker if you can find it. Navigate will also kill it but its kinda pricey. Its just a granular form of 2-4D. How close are the lillies to the primrose?

Thanks guys!

Esshup, thats the info I was searching for "inert once it hits the water". The prim has almost worked its way around the entire pond which is ok but it's really too thick in some spots for my liking.

jsand13, its all in my lilies but I can clear most of that by hand. I still need to spray close to my lilies though, and don't want what I'm putting out to get in the water and kill evrything.

ewest, I read through that list and have access to several of the herbicides from my local TSC, problem is, the same list applies to water lilies.

Jeff-

Which brands of liquid-ester 2,4-D are labeled for aquatic use? Also, why would an ester 2,4-D break down more rapidly?

NAVIGATE is a granular butoxyethyl ester 2,4-D, and is labeled for aquatic-use. But, it would likely prove lethal on nearby lilies as well.

Low-velocity/no-drift topical spot-treatments with imazapyr work well on primrose, and are unlikely to have much (if any) impact on adjacent/untreated emergent plants.

TenJeff, studying for the aquatic herbacide applicators license is paying off already and I haven't even gotten thru the book yet.

TennJeff then you saw the reference to goats. They have worked great for several here on WP. I remove it by hand. Kelly is spot on on the chemical methods. I have reduced WP by spot spraying with copper sulfate dissolved in water (blue water). Also with other contact herbicides. If you want to get rid of it then spot spray with imazapyr. It may take more than on application.

Thanks again everyone!

ewest, I've had great success with granular copper sulfate keeping my green slime (FA) from getting too carried away so I'm familiar. I may give the imazapyr a try in a few selected areas just to see how it does.
I'm going to resist the goats for now, even though we have a good friend who raises them and is constantly trying to give us a pair. We have a house full of furred and feathered children already and I am the main caretaker. I have a handful.

Jeff-