You are here:

Pond & Water Gardening/pond maintenance-lily pads & cattails

Advertisement

Expert: Robyn Rhudy - 8/23/2006


Question
we have a country pond about an acre in size, which is being overgrown by lilypads & cattails. Is there any pond treatment that would not be toxic to the fish or to swimmers?

Answer
I am against herbicides.  None are truly safe.  Some will probably be ok for fish and humans to some extent.  Not using them myself, I don't have a preferred toxin.  Cattails can be almost impossible to get rid of even with toxic chemicals.  Lilies are eaten by many animals - koi, grass carp, turtles, muskrats, beavers, deer, raccoons, ducks, etc.  Physical removal might be doable for the lilies but cattails are hard to pull or cut.  I suggest contacting some of the companies that cater to farm ponds.  They sell machinery and chemicals to kill plants.  I have a list at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/farm.htm

Good luck!
Robyn

Pond & Water Gardening

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Robyn Rhudy

Expertise

I can answer questions regarding goldfish, koi, orfe, minnows, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, aquatic insects, snails, shrimp, other aquatic animals, algae, aquatic plants, winterizing, pond maintenance, pond setup, pond problems, and more. I am not as good on the actual construction of ponds and with pond equipment such as pumps and filters but know the basics.

Experience

I have eight ponds and four aquariums. My largest 1800 gallon pond was built in 1997. Since then, I set up a web site on my animals, fish, and ponds. My pond web site (fishpondinfo.com) is huge, award-winning, and has spawned a free pond e-newsletter and a book on ponds. I am well known and respected in the on-line pond community.

Organizations
Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

Publications
I am quoted in an article in Aquarium Fish (May 2003). I published my own book on ponds in 2001. I wrote an article for the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Organic Gardening on tub ponds.

Education/Credentials
Masters degree in analytical chemistry; many people consider me a pond expert

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.