Irrigation Pond Contaminated with Weeds and Grass

You might google "grass carp" or "white amur" to learn about a pretty good, inexpensive option for pond weed elimination and control. They are commonly stocked in ponds and lakes in my area for that purpose.

You might also discuss it with the Florida wildlife or fish and game folks. They should be able to offer advice.

Hello Archidesign:

It sounds like you have quite a problem there!

I think your best bet would be to get a couple of ducks! They will eat any seeds and grass which floats and, any plant which starts to grow in the pond.

If you get grass carp get 'Triploid' Grass Carp. They are sterile and cannot breed when put into rivers.

What is a Triploid Grass Carp?

In 1983, US grass carp producers began production of a sterile (triploid) form of grass carp, mitigating the reproductive concerns associated with the diploid fish. Triploid grass carp are created through shocking grass carp eggs immediately after fertilization with either hot or cold water. This temperature shock results in the retention of an extra chromosome set, rendering the fish incapable of producing viable young. With the exception of this extra chromosome set, triploid grass carp are identical to their diploid counterparts. Triploid grass carp are the only form of grass carp legal in New York State.

I and several other posts on a thread about two half acre ponds, more like lakes at that size, mentioned the grass carp. They eat living grass or more accurately, weed. As in oxygenating weed and other pond flora. They will not eat the seeds to your problem vegitation.............

The grass carp are a protected species and should never be put into rivers and lakes. They will take over. ...........

Once the seeds and other detritus are in the water, unless they can find a little area of mud or soil they should rot.

You will not stop cut weeds and grass and seeds going into the pond. It sounds like you have water flowing in and/or out of this pool. I went to a fish farm once and they had zinc gauze at about a 30 degree slope, with the top of the filter in the same direction as the flow of water. The staff would clean these screens which were supported on 2" x 2" (50mm x 50mm) angle, several times a day and every few minutes as the grass was cut, using a dutch hoe and pulling the rubbish onto the bank. The rubbish was collected and allowed to dry and burned.

In your case can you not filter out any seeds etc as you release the water for irrigation?

Another way to do things is to keep on top of the grass cutting and weeding. Easy to say I know but............

Take care and good luck. I would definitely go for Ducks! They make a nice dinner as well!

Have a great new year.................

Not being a floridian but attending local (SW Ontario,Canada)golf courses regularly i've notice,at least in this part of the continent,less anal attention to fairway grass speciation(cut grass is cut grass..short cut grass is short cut grass)at most courses with much attention to the greens...Ponds tend to be full of life and grass in general is not bagged up as the fairways and greens are cropped regularlly to keep them short..Rough in some courses is quite rough while at others it is semi-manicured..The use of chemicals as detected by my in built chemical sensor(nose/sense of taste) indicates a much lower of chemical attention to the courses then even 10 years ago..In summary...cut regularly,irrigate as needed,don't get too overwrought by varietys coming through and you will still have a carpet of green..Physical inputs appear to be key.....Regards..Marty W.

Hello martywolf:

I said something about it and, now you mention it also. Very good point! No need to renew the grass, it just needs cutting back hard once or twice a year. Any weeds with not be apparent and it is not a huge job. Any local contractor or the OP should manage it easily. Take a divert from round anywhere the grass grows up and it will look tidy if not great. Who is to say the new grass will not come with its own weeds just to make the party lively?

Take care and have a great new year.................

I very much agree with you on the grass, but the problem is that Bermuda grass is all over and because of this all grass must be removed, since "Bermuda" roots goes 6 ft. down, that is why we are replacing all the St Augustine grass. With this issue already solved by erradication, the next problem is that the Irrigation Pond "water" is believed to be contaminated with same bermuda, since its surrounded by this grass, that when mown its blown into the Pond.

Question is if the Irrigation Pond is truly contaminated with the bermuda grass, and if its able to contaminate the newly place St Augustine Grass, remember that the sprinkler system works with the water from the irrigation pond.

Should I clean the Irrigation Pond's Water? (its too big to replace, 1.5 million gallon) Is there any written comentary on this issue? I have not find any.

Hello Archidesign:

In my opinion if the grass is cut often enough and the edges where it meets something like a wall or tree where it tends to grow up, are cut back away from the thing it grows up on, I can see no need to replace all the grass. But then, I am not on the spot as you are. I would consider ducks as they will eat any grass and or seeds.

The answer to the pumped watering and seeds, is surely to filter the water and empty the filter every week and burn what come out of the filter? That is, if there is any seeds left after the ducks have had dinner!

I am serious about ducks. They will also eat any bugs and stuff in the pond. There is no way you can stop grass and weeds getting into the pond unless it is covered. If it is not then a natural cleaner like ducks seems reasonable. You can buy them small and allow them to feed on any or all the flora and fauna you do not want.

A male and female to start will ensure they stay and call it home.

If it is the only water around for several hundred yards/metres, then I know from personal experience they will stay.

Good luck and think positive!

I and others was giving advice to a man who had water weed growing out of his two half acre ponds! Couldn't see the water. So a few seeds and NO seeds after a filter is fitted seems small beer.

Take care and good luck.............

Grass Carp is a great idea, also Sonar works wonders in a pond and it is completely safe. I would also recommend implementing a pond aeration system.