Alien Invasion - I want my pond back !

[farmer2009]

Eric how feasible would it be to cover the remaining section with tarps and tie off to the banks. Even if done in stages. Something was said about it could live in many areas just not darkness. Thinking maybe you could stay in shallow waters to deploy them.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Dig a new pond? You'd have a good place to put the dirt!

 

[FentonFarmer]

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

 

[FentonFarmer]

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

 

[Eric Salop]

Eric how feasible would it be to cover the remaining section with tarps and tie off to the banks. Even if done in stages. Something was said about it could live in many areas just not darkness. Thinking maybe you could stay in shallow waters to deploy them.

I don't fancy paddling with too many ropes in the water. Unlike last year, my new tractor has a loader, so if I can get the bulk of the Crassula to the bank side, I may be able to grab it out, then pile up and cover to rot down. Just have to be careful I don't take the Iseki for a swim in the process.

Dig a new pond? You'd have a good place to put the dirt!

You are a bad boy Luke.
If anyone missed Luke's "No longer a regen virgin!" thread, I'd recommend having a look, it's really funny (To anyone not aware, some of the latest tractors run hot every few hours, regenerating their exhaust filters by burning off the soot to comply with emission regulations). http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/339102-no-longer-regen-virgin.html

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

Thanks, I may have read that paper. The little pieces that break off do try to grow again, but now the water is more open, the wind tends to drive these over to the bank, then I fish them out with a muck fork. So far I think am winning ...

 

[Xfaxman]

--------------------------------------------------
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread.-----------------------------
B.R.

Yep, true for Prickly Pear cactus that we have here. If you hit it with a mower, each piece can put out roots and grow.

It is green in the summer, these were taken in February.

 

[SPIKER]

Yep, true for Prickly Pear cactus that we have here. If you hit it with a mower, each piece can put out roots and grow.

It is green in the summer, these were taken in February.

Those are ones people eat if not mistaken, so maybe start mowing & selling to local or organic food places

M

 

[Xfaxman]

Those are ones people eat if not mistaken, so maybe start mowing & selling to local or organic food places

M

Yep, that is the one. But we have too many now!

The Many Uses of the Prickly Pear - Real Food - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

 

[KubotainNH]

Now that looks like an alien to me.

 

[clemsonfor]

Autumn 2014 - How to evect an alien
I read lots of official recommendations on how to bring death to Crassula.
All of them say it is only a temporary measure - it will come back.



Chemical Attack View attachment 429388
The good news is that there is a very effective chemical control.
The bad news is that the chemical was thought to be too good at killing humans too, so they banned it from sale a few years ago.
As clemsonfor said, a form of aquatic glyphosate can be used.
Using pesticides on water is strictly regulated and if I were to go through the official channels I would have a lot of red tape, plus that would be another magnet for bureaucrats coming round checking on me. I would also have to go and sit an expensive exam before I was deemed competent to do it myself. Alternatively, I could bring someone in, but with glyphosate it is highly likely that it only kills the part above the surface, they would have to keep coming back to get the shoots that then grow up from the stuff lurking beneath the surface.




Excluding All Light View attachment 429389
On small ponds Crassula has been killed off by covering in black plastic sheet for 6 months.
Doesn't seem a feasible solution on a pond this size, although there is a variant on this which I will come back to later.



Explosives View attachment 429390
Not an officially recognised method. It was suggested by a friend who enjoys such spectacles and it could even work. Set a charge, or charges, underneath the alien and blow the whole mass outwards onto the bankside. It would be interesting to give this a go. Pity there is a public road running alongside one bank ...




Drain and dig it out
As much as I enjoyed the siphon, I don't plan on emptying this pond again, or this thread could turn into a groundhog day.




Lift out on Pallets View attachment 429391
Nope, I promised I wouldn't go there.



Simply Pull It Out View attachment 429392
The Institute of Hydrology warns not to attempt to remove Crassula "by mechanical extraction", otherwise it will grow again from the broken shoots. As much as I repect that the boffins in this revered institution know the biology of this plant, they underestimate the sheer satisfaction it would give me to physically evict the alien and pile it high on the bankside. They haven't come up with any good viable alternative, so despite the warning, dragging it out is what I will try and I will then do my best to find ways to stop it coming back. More on this tomorrow

Aquatic glyphostate will kill the beneath the water portions of the plant.

And man what trouble to spray herbicide . Over here you can buy thechemicals on line and ship them to you an leagally apply as long as your floowing the label. That said i also hold official government training on the subject of herbicide