duckweed control

[burtalm]

I have a small land locked pond on the property I just bought. It is covered with duckweed and I'd like the 'pond" to be more attractive to deer. Do any of you have any natural control suggestions? I'm thinking about a couple of ducks or geese but since the pond is in the woods I might be feeding their predators. Any thoughts?

 

[GareyD]

I think opening the pond only makes it more attractive to people /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Critters don't mind having the natural cover/protection/extra oxygen that pond weeds usually create...

But to answer your question, no, I don't know of a natural/organic way to get rid of them weeds...

GareyD

 

[shoppintractors]

Not sure if this company has anything organic. They have some reference information that may be beneficial. Take a look....

www.killlakeweeds.com

Don

 

[Junkman]

Duckweed is great for the fish of the pond. It keeps the pond cool and the fish eat it. It also give cover to the fish so the birds don't attack them. Aquarium hobbyist love to have duck weed growing on the top of their tanks for its beauty and nutrients. Duckweed also acts to purify the water by using up the nutrient products that cause algae. It is natures way to help ponds, not hurt them. The only time that deer object to duckweed is when a piece gets caught between two of their teeth and they don't have a tooth pick handy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fishman]

Duckweed is great until it covers the pond completely, which almost always happens, so duckweed, well, isn't great.

You sure it is duckweed? Duckweed free floats on the surface and is about half the diameter of a dime. If you pick up the plant it will have two or three tiny leaves, and two or three little roots.

If this is what you have, there really isn't any natural control, other than mechanical removal. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif If you don't have any outflow on your pond, you can kill it all with a product called Sonar (if it's use isn't restricted in your state). Sonar must remain in the pond for 60-90 days to be effective. This chemical will kill all of the duckweed and it shouldn't come back, unless waterfowl or the pond upstream brings it in.

Alternatively you can spray the pond multiple times with a chemical called Reward. If you miss any, they'll just repopulate the whole pond.

Check out Pondboss if you have questions about your pond.

 

[SPIKER]

if the pond is totally land locked then a few dozen gold fish will clear it up in nothing flat! unless there are a few hungry bass then the gold fish will make nice bait /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I agree with JM I wouldn't worry about duckweed. moss is much nastier and once you clear the duckweed the moss will grow and take over and is much less friendly to fish/fowl and 4legged critters. not to mention you could probably make you'reself a watercress sandwitch /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif check around a few of the pet stores you maybe able to sell a bit of it to people who want it. see if you can post a sign there free all the duckweed you're fish can eat! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif asfar as chemicals, I hate using them too many DDT problems happen and never get noticed. DUCKS will stay by the water and can also do a lot of eating, the preditors (4 legged variaty ) will not be able to get to them as long as there is plenty of water there... 9make a small fence 1/2 circle that goes down into the water and feed the ducks a bit inside that half circle with a small shelter for them inside there. once they find out nothing can get to them with out going into the water they will be pretty safe.


Mark M

 

[Junkman]

Goldfish will eat the duck weed and keep the pond clear of other problems, but it is too late in the season to start them in the pond. This should be done in May or June if you want them to get established and survive the cold of winter. You can purchase what is known as feeder gold fish at pet shops for about 8 or 10 for $1.00, Just don't expect a life survival guaranty...

 

[burtalm]

Thanks for all the replies!!
1) I'm sure it's duckweed. Fishman, the stuff seems too prolific to waste chemical on and bird visitors will reintroduce quickly even if killer it all.
2) The pond has no outlet but stays full all year. Frankly I think its at the natural level of the water table.
3) Deer tracks indicate that they visit but you all know how unsightly that duckweed looks ... green nose buggers won't look good when my son ses up his trail camera to scout them out. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thank you,Junkman.
4) I've already considered putting in some goldfish next year as a natural control but I have know idea how many I should consider. (The pond covers about 1/2 acre and is fairly shallow.) [I'm thinking about having it enlarged and deepened sometime in the future. Money being the issue.]
Spiker, do you have experience with the goldfish solution? or the duck solution? The pond is totally surrounded by woods and my neighbors claim they have seen coyotes. I've neither seen them nor heard them but I have seen fox so my wife won't like it if I get them and get chomped quickly. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
5) Fishman, I'll check the link as soon as I can. Thanks.
Burt

 

[Junkman]

I have lots of experience with comets (the other name for goldfish). They will breed in the pond and some of the smaller fish will become food for the larger ones. If you feed the fish during the summer months along with the mosquito larvae that they eat, they will grow quickly and become quite large. At that point, they stick out like a big thumb and are often caught by birds of prey. It is a natural life cycle and it keeps everything in balance. I would start with 100 or even possibly 200, but no more than that. There will be some losses, but overall most should survive the first summer. The real losses are in the winter when the fish come to the top as the water is turning to slush, just before freezing solid. The cold water will chill the fish and its body will go into a hibernation state. Then it will remain at the top and become frozen in the ice. When the pond thaws, they are the beginning fish food for those that survived the winter down deep in the pond. Comets like cold water and a cows salt block or two put into the pond in the early spring will also make them happy..

 

[PineRidge]

I have had a very good success rate using White Amur or Grass Carp to control weeds in my current pond and the pond on my last property as well. I introduced them into my pond 4-1/2 years ago at a fingerling size. All 8 of them now look like miniature submarines and must each weigh about 15 to 20 pounds. They got that large eating the pond vegetation so as far as I'm concerned they are earning their keep.