BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Control Water Hyacinth

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

When it comes to the invasive water hyacinth, control is a more realistic option than eradication is. These noxious weeds can double their mass in 2 weeks, and left unchecked, the plants can quickly choke out desirable aquatic species in your backyard pond or local waterway. The stagnant water flow around water hyacinth populations also creates a favorable habitat for mosquito breeding. Choose from mechanical, biological or chemical controls.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Geese
Endothall dipotassium
Water lilies
Neochetina weevils
Sameodes albiguttalis moth
Log booms
Fencing

Step1

Welcome domestic geese to your property. Although it's unlikely that geese can clear a heavy water hyacinth problem initially, studies indicate that they can control the rapid re-growth of these weeds.

Step2

Use a herbicide approved for water systems. Although several herbicides exhibit toxicity against water hyacinth, your state regulations may forbid them due to harmful effects on aquatic life. You can use endothall dipotassium salt in many areas.

Step3

Handpick water hyacinth. This is the preferred method for backyard ponds, but you must combine handpicking with other methods in large waterways for superior results.

Step4

Plant alternatives to water hyacinth in your water garden, such as water lilies. Even if you're a good steward of the land, it's possible for water hyacinth to spread into neighboring waterways if an animal transports seeds from your pond.

Step5

Introduce insect predators into large waterways choked with water hyacinth. Neochetina weevils and the Sameodes albiguttalis moth reduce the growth and reproductive vigor of water hyacinths.

Step6

Install floating barriers to contain water hyacinth and prevent small plantlets from spreading from lagoons and lakes into rivers. Log booms and fences are two successful large-scale methods.