What Are Your Aquatic Weed Control Options?
There is not a thing in the world people like more than a little plant genocide, especially in their backyard pond, or in some cases the fishpond where it would cause major issues for the fish as well as you. Fish do not relish navigating through a massive underwater forest just like any other creature, therefore it is best to control the plants at the bottom of your pond, before one of them turn into that man-eating plant from Jumanji.
An overgrowth of watery plants may create problems ranging from watercraft motors being clogged, to undesirable results when fishing, to kids experiencing a horrible time attempting to swim in the water. None of those are things you want, therefore it is better to eradicate the root of the problem before it even begins if you can.
You have a couple choices available to you, options which go from biological control, which is to say the introduction of fish that naturally control the plant populous, to covering your whole pond with a plastic lining…which seems a rather drastic step, but hey, do whatever suits you.
So let us review a few of the options, and after that you may choose which one is best for your situation, just keep in mind that these are only a very few options, and you must consult with other pond owners, or experts to learn about every single option at your disposal.
Harvesting – Getting rid of the plants through manual labor, is of course a great option. However, if this plant isn’t on the shore, or isn’t|is not on the top of the pond, you might find yourself investing in some scuba equipment to get down there without drowning. If you don’t have knowledge of the dynamics of scuba diving, or can’t hold your breath for an incredibly long time, it is encouraged for you to get a hold of the professionals. Believe it or not, there are companies that work to clean the bottom of ponds and lakes, therefore you will be in pretty good hands in that regard.
Chemicals – There are chemicals at your disposal to rid yourself of this pesky aquatic life. A few chemicals are Fluridone,2,4-D, Glyphosate, Diquat, Endothall. Naturally though, it is never suggested that you use any kind of herbicide or chemical to kill off your plant life, which isn’t dissimilar to the reason it’s not advised for you to toss a live wire into a lake to capture your prize fish. Utilizing chemicals can prove detrimental for fish, in addition to any other various life forms which you might have residing within your pond. Use these with care, or even better, do not use them period unless you absolutely have to.
Dye – You could buy a huge selection of chemicals that will tint the color of your water, and thereby reduce the amount of sun for any aquatic plant life. It’s best to do this at the beginning of spring for best results.
Lining – Lining the bottom of the pond with a sort of plastic is also an choice, as that would stunt the development of any sort of aquatic plant life. Don’t forget that it may become expensive, therefore consider the size of the pond, as well as how much plastic you’ll need. Naturally that is a good option for compact fish ponds, though perhaps not so much for a whole lake in your yard.
Remember that there are plenty of techniques to halt plant life from infiltrating your pond, and to discover the technique which is good for you, talk to a professional or get together with different pond keepers.