Learn how you can keep pond vegetation under control, including duckweed seen here.
Pond vegetation including algae and cattails among others are relatively common issues property owners must face. However, when you trust the expertise of the professional aquatic service providers at Scientific Plant Service, you can discover the methods required to control your pond’s vegetation. The first step in knowing how to keep pond vegetation under control is understanding what types of vegetation are likely to develop. Next, you can practice different techniques to prevent pond weeds from developing in the future. If you want to maintain the health of your pond, you can call the experienced team at Scientific Plant Service to inspect your specific property and determine what treatments are best.
Three Types of Pond Vegetation
Generally, you will encounter three types of pond vegetation: floating, submerged, and emergent. These weeds may not pose a problem in small amounts, but pond weeds tend to multiply quickly, especially during warm or hot weather.
Floating Weeds
Floating, or surface, vegetation includes plants such as duckweed, watermeal, water hyacinth, water lettuce, spatterdock, Azolla, and water shield. These plants can reproduce rapidly and cover the surface of your pond. Occasionally duckweed and watermeal may be misdiagnosed as algae problems.
Submerged Weeds
These plants include curly-leaf pondweed, American pondweed, Illinois pondweed, Sago pondweed, and several others. These weeds can reduce oxygen levels in your pond, posing a risk to the fish and wildlife in the pond.
Emergent Pond Weeds
These plants include alligator and weed, bulrush, water primrose, and cattails, and grow on the shoreline of ponds.
Preventing Pond Vegetation
Pond vegetation tends to grow in water with excess nutrients. If you can reduce the nutrient levels in your pond, you can help reduce the growth of this troublesome vegetation. If you notice that your pond has a prominent sludge layer, this indicates you have excess nutrients. Your lawn care service provider can recommend the best tools for consuming excess nutrients in your pond and improving the conditions of the water.
Additionally, by applying proper sod and grass maintenance, your lawn will be better able to soak up rainwater and reduce the runoff that enters your pond. Beneficial plants around the shoreline also help prevent erosion and keep runoff out of the water. If you fertilize your lawn, leaving a buffer of unfertilized grass around your pond is recommended.
Vegetation Control
If you already have abundant pond vegetation growing in the water, you must take specific steps to remediate this issue. Floating weeds can often be removed manually using a skimmer or a pond rake. With rooted weeds, you will need to use a weed cutter and rake out the cut pieces.
Herbicides and algaecides may be needed to kill pond weeds. You can consult the professionals at Scientific Plant Service for the best recommendations that won’t upset the balance of your pond environment.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.