Aquatic Weed Control

Intro   |   Identifying Weeds   |   Controlling Weeds   |   List of Common Weeds   |    Control Methods

• Biological Control
• Physical Control
• Chemical Control
• Mechanical Control
• Grass Carp

Physical Control

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Managing Mississippi Farm Ponds and Small Lakes

Rooted plants cannot grow where sunlight does not reach the bottom, so deepening shallow pond edges so they drop quickly to 3 feet deep is an effective means of reducing weed coverage. Use a 3:1 (1 foot increase in depth for each 3 feet from shore) slope so the bank remains stable and does not collapse.

Another physical technique, called a drawdown (a reduction in water level), can be effective and economical in controlling many kinds of aquatic weeds. For detailed information on winter drawdowns, read "Winter Drawdown: A Useful Management Tool for Mississippi Farm Ponds."

You can use pond dyes to control submersed aquatic weeds by shading the plants so they do not get enough sunlight. Use dyes only in ponds that have little outflow, since flowing water washes the dye out of the pond. Also, dye reduces pond productivity and should not be used in ponds that are fertilized.

Although pond liners are a form of physical control sometimes used for aquaculture and municipal ponds, they are generally too expensive and impractical for private ponds.