Waterweed provides oxygen, serves as shelter for fish and prevents algae blooms. A thoroughly useful plant, one would think. But it doesn't have the word plague in its name for nothing. It can spread extremely quickly and must then be combated. But how?
How can you combat waterweed effectively?
To combat waterweed in the pond, we recommend removing it manually with a herb rake, reducing nutrients and temperature through shading and, for smaller ponds, letting it dry out during the frost period. Chemical agents and grass carp are less recommended.
No panacea in sight
Fighting water pests in the aquarium is a task that takes time, but can be mastered. The plant is cut back accordingly. With waterweed in the pond, however, things look more difficult, because here we are dealing with different dimensions and conditions.
Most of the waterweed plants could be removed from the water, but the small pieces that break off and remain in the water soon multiply into new, independent plants. This is the main challenge of combating it.
Remove water pest manually
The spread of water plague can be suppressed through extensive cutting measures. However, complete removal is more difficult to achieve. Remove the waterweed as completely as possible with a herb rake (€38.00 on Amazon).
So that new water pest forest cannot form from small remains, you should shade the pond and thus reduce the water temperature. Warm water greatly stimulates growth. The nutrient content must also remain low. Fertilize cautiously and do not use nutrient-rich soil for planting.
Let the pond dry out
If the pond is without water, the removal of the waterweed can be more successful. A period of frost at this time also helps get rid of the pest. For smaller ponds, the effort is limited.
Chemical Control Agents
Chemical agents must always be checked to see whether they are approved for domestic use. But they should only be considered in exceptional cases.
- Chemistry also reaches other plants and creatures in the pond
- these can become impaired or even die
- the ecological balance is also disturbed
Grass carp as a waterweed killer
It is always recommended to use grass carp against waterweed in larger ponds. They eat the plants and thus contribute to their decimation. But the success is never so resounding, so the water plague always regenerates. Other aquatic plants that are also part of the diet of this fish species can also suffer.
Tip
Be cautious when planting waterweed. The plant grows so much that you can inadvertently create a problem for yourself.
