Piperflyer
Gold Member
I have a small pond 60' x 40' x 10' in depth. Weeds are starting too take it over. What can I buy from Tractor Supply or else where that will clean the pond of weeds....guaranteed?
Pond Weeding
- Thread starter Piperflyer
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murphy1244
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iF YOU DON'T USE THE WATER TO DRINK YOU SHOULD DYE THE POND. They have some stuff for spot spraying also.
GGB
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It can be a challenge to get total control of weeds. It's especially hard if the pond slope isn't just about right. Too shallow and you probably going to have issues with weeds. Also, if you've got runoff from heavily fertilized ground, that will also add to the weed population. Having a good grass stand around the pond to catch some of the runoff seems to help, and will keep the water cleaner as well.
In fact, I've reached the point of education through trial and error that I'll now accept some weeds as being healthy for a pond. This may be even more important if you are trying to have a healthy fish population. The year I killed off everything led to poor fishing the next year. In my research, I realized I had taken away a lot of habitat which is beneficial to a good fish pond.
If you are trying to control cattails and the like, the Roundup based products (I can't think of the specific brand names) are effective, but really they work best in the fall when the plant is trying to take nutrients to the roots. And at the recommended mix, won't hurt your fish.
If you are trying to control scum, you may need to add aeration. On my small pond, I put up a windmill aerator, and I never had to do anything else to that pond last year. No chemicals, no pulling weeds, no spraying-I'll save the cost of the windmill at that rate in about 3-4 years, and not have to lift a finger to do it!
Speaking of scum, chemicals like copper sulfate will kill the scum, but at the cost of wiping out the beneficial bacteria in the process. I'll never use CS again. Instead, I use a liquid beneficial bacteria that you can get at most farm supply stores and just pour it on the scum and leave it alone for a few days. Generally, that will take care of it. I've also sprayed it from my hand sprayer to get better coverage. If I don't have the liquid handy, I've found that good old Rid-X like you use for your septic system will do the same thing. I'll just broadcast it from the box, or use a hand held seed broadcaster. But watch the direction of the wind-don't ask how I know!
No matter what I do, I know that at times I'll still have more weeds than I care for, so I'm planning on building a weed rake for my tractor loader like I've been watching on other current threads. But that is a great problem to have-getting to spend time on the tractor!
Good luck!
In fact, I've reached the point of education through trial and error that I'll now accept some weeds as being healthy for a pond. This may be even more important if you are trying to have a healthy fish population. The year I killed off everything led to poor fishing the next year. In my research, I realized I had taken away a lot of habitat which is beneficial to a good fish pond.
If you are trying to control cattails and the like, the Roundup based products (I can't think of the specific brand names) are effective, but really they work best in the fall when the plant is trying to take nutrients to the roots. And at the recommended mix, won't hurt your fish.
If you are trying to control scum, you may need to add aeration. On my small pond, I put up a windmill aerator, and I never had to do anything else to that pond last year. No chemicals, no pulling weeds, no spraying-I'll save the cost of the windmill at that rate in about 3-4 years, and not have to lift a finger to do it!
Speaking of scum, chemicals like copper sulfate will kill the scum, but at the cost of wiping out the beneficial bacteria in the process. I'll never use CS again. Instead, I use a liquid beneficial bacteria that you can get at most farm supply stores and just pour it on the scum and leave it alone for a few days. Generally, that will take care of it. I've also sprayed it from my hand sprayer to get better coverage. If I don't have the liquid handy, I've found that good old Rid-X like you use for your septic system will do the same thing. I'll just broadcast it from the box, or use a hand held seed broadcaster. But watch the direction of the wind-don't ask how I know!
No matter what I do, I know that at times I'll still have more weeds than I care for, so I'm planning on building a weed rake for my tractor loader like I've been watching on other current threads. But that is a great problem to have-getting to spend time on the tractor!
Good luck!
creekbend
Super Star Member
Controlling Aquatic Vegetation with Grass Carp There is also a type of weed control that consists of crystals that you apply and will not harm livestock. My Father used to apply that on his farm ponds. I will try later to find the source and supplier.
GGB
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Good catch-I forgot to mention the grass carp. They seem to help with some weeds but not everything. And you'll need to be sure to get the right size so they don't end up as an expensive meal for your other fish.
creekbend
Super Star Member
rekees4300
Elite Member
I have a one acre pond that has been infected with Pondweed. Since it's the source of our drinking water, I hesitate to use chemicals. Been using a Weedrazer couple times a year. It's hard manual labor but for me better than having a poison pond.
WeedRazers.com - Tools for controlling Aquatic vegetation, Lake weed, and pond weed
Rustyiron
Super Member
Like some other guy's said, I have great results with "Aqua shade" from TSC, and they now have their own brand similar. It is only a blue dye that cuts off the suns rays into the water. It is not useful after the weeds are present, best used early in the year. I think that each pond has it's own situation (enviroment) and I built mine deep as many suggested, also graded to not allow runoff in it. It is spring fed and a blessing compared to some (most) of the pond building stories that I've heard. These "dyes" are animal safe and the same for swimming. PS. the pond got dug when MaMa started talking about a swimming pool!