lily pad and lotus removal

[Philip_L]

I have a 1/4 acre pond that is getting taken over by lily pads and american lotus. I have tried pulling them out but they are multiplying like crazy. What do I do, I can hardly fish anymore! I am open to any and all means as long as it does not kill my fish or ducks, I will kill every piece of vegetation in the pond if I have to.

Thanks

 

[fishman]

Philip,

The most economical approach would be to buy some aquatic-approved glyphosate, minimum 42% strength, 50%+ better(brand names include Rodeo, Aquamaster, Aquastar to name but a few) and an aquatic approved surfactant. A tank mix of 2% glyphosate will work well. You could probably get by just fine with a 2 gallon pump sprayer, but make sure the leaves are wetted thoroughly and don't run them over with your boat, or the herbicide will wash off. I generally use much larger quantities and therefore require a gas pump or a 25 gallon electric demand sprayer.

There is a new chemical out that is supposed to be even better. It's called Habitat, but at $75+ a quart, it isn't cheap. I have had good luck with glyphosate and don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[SPIKER]

One thing to remember is that much rotting vegitation in that small of a pond will quickly stop you fropm fishing int here as it will kill off ALL the fish very fast. kill all the weeds they die fall to the bottom rott then suck out all the available o2 for the fish and they basically drown /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ! back in 91 the fla fish & game did exactly this in the HARRIS chain of lakes what a mess, I showed up about 3~4 months after it happend the area stunk so bad it was terriable even the catfish were on top of the water trying to suck air to live, & they were covered in alge /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif anyhow a good long handled rake to pull out anything dead and or ding is a good idea so if you are going to do that might as well rake it out first... then if you still have a lot of it spray and rake the bottom dead stuf off. don't do it untill late fall is best so that the small fish have a chance any spray durring spawn and or early hatch will kill the fry... (my boss made that mistake 2 years in a row!

MakrM

 

[Glenn9643]

Philip

We too have a problem, but thankfully not with lily pads. My wife calls the stuff “wild water primrose” and it grows around the banks of the pond, often extending out twenty feet or so. I’ve been using a landscape rake to drag it out of the pond, but last year got too close and the tractor slipped into the pond! In the next few weeks I intend to modify the mast of my pallet forks so I can attach the landscape rake to the FEL.
We’ve used Rodeo (that Fishman recommended) some in the past, and it seems to work best if you can catch the problem early in the year.

 

[lhfarm]

We have a bigger problem - watershield. Been using Rodeo with some success, but I can't seem to get it all. I've been told I need to dig out the edge of my pond to 3'. That is supposed to keep cattails and other vegatation from getting a foothold. Anyone done this, rather than the chemical approach?

 

[fishman]

This is for Glenn9643 and Lhfarm, or anyone else in fact.

Both watershield and especially water primrose are difficult to kill with glyphosate but will definitely get knocked back. This is supposed to be where the previously mentioned Habitat chemical is used. My very good source recommends 2 quarts habitat, 1 quart glyphosate, and 1 quart Inergy surfactant per acre for these problems. This should be mixed with as little water as possible to ensure adequate coverage, 25 gallons would be great. It's a very new chemical, and I am trying it out for the first time this weekend on a couple of ponds.

Also mentioned is the problem with low dissolved oxygen. Since lilypads don't have nearly the mass of submerged vegetation, and they are quite woody requiring longer to decay, spraying them during most of the year should be fine. However, big masses of submerged vegetation are a problem once water temperatures start inching towards 80 degrees.

 

[lhfarm]

Fishman - do you have a source for Habitat? Google didn't help. I'm ready to try anything after 3 seasons of spraying.

I do plan to do some edge "cleaning" with my new backhoe. This is a small "stock" pond (no stock using it at the moment).

 

[Philip_L]

thanks for the help guys.

I will try the glyphomate 41 (which includes a surfacant I believe). Will this stuff kill my ducks. Also, has anyone tried aquashade as something to prevent further growth?

 

[fishman]

lhfarm,

Your local farm and ranch may be able to get it. One thing, the quart size may not be available everywhere just yet. It isn't available at my supplier (Estes Inc.) and I had to buy a 2.5 gallon container last week. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif They projected a mid-may availability which would be soon enough for your purposes.

I don't know if it has to ship hazmat, but you could get it that way maybe.

 

[fishman]

Philip L

Glyphomate 41 should work well. It will not kill your ducks and has no restrictions. Aquashade won't prevent re-emergence of lotus or lily, but works for submerged weeds when depths exceed 5-6 feet.