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Ready to Treat for Hydrilla?
Give us a call this spring and we’ll handle the rest.
Hydrilla is one of the most problematic aquatic weeds in the United States. It’s a fast-growing, invasive plant that can quickly take over ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water. Their dense mats choke out native vegetation and disrupt ecosystems, costing businesses, municipalities, and homeowners alike millions of dollars per year to remove. Because hydrilla can be such a costly and persistent issue, it pays to understand what it looks like and how you can properly control it.
What Is Hydrilla?
Hydrilla is an aggressive, submerged aquatic plant that was first introduced to the United States in the 1950s. Originally brought in as an aquarium plant, it quickly spread into natural waterways, where it has since become one of the most difficult aquatic weeds to manage.
Hydrilla is easily identified by its long, slender stems that can grow over 25 feet in length. Its leaves are arranged in whorls of four to eight around the stem and feature small, sharp, teeth-like edges. This invasive plant thrives in both freshwater and brackish environments, tolerating a wide range of conditions.
Unlike many other aquatic weeds, hydrilla spreads through multiple means, including fragmentation, tubers, turions, and seed production. Even a small fragment of hydrilla can establish itself in a new location, allowing the plant to spread rapidly. This aggressive reproductive ability is what makes it so difficult to eradicate. Without proper hydrilla control methods in place, the weed can take over an entire body of water in just a few seasons.
Why is Hydrilla a Problem?
Destroy Ecosystems
Because hydrilla can grow about an inch per day, it doesn’t take long before this aquatic plant becomes an ecological and economic threat. In fact, the weed is known to:
One of the biggest concerns with hydrilla is its impact on aquatic ecosystems. The thick mats of vegetation it creates can block sunlight from reaching native plants, ultimately killing them off. Without these native plants, fish and other aquatic life lose crucial habitats and food sources. Hydrilla also depletes dissolved oxygen levels in the water, which can lead to fish kills and create conditions that favor harmful algal blooms. To boost water quality and protect ecosystems, pond and lake owners should invest in effective control measures.
Interfere With Recreational Activities
If you enjoy boating, fishing, or swimming in ponds and lakes, the last thing you want is hydrilla ruining the fun. The dense growth of hydrilla can get tangled in the propellers of your boat. The plant’s long stems can catch fishing lures and even reduce the population of fish in the water. And swimmers may experience the unnerving sensation of the weeds wrapping themselves around their legs. Since this noxious weed can make recreational activities unpleasant and even hazardous, it’s important to consider implementing hydrilla control methods long before the weed makes itself known.
Lead To Costly Removal
Once hydrilla has taken hold of a body of water, removing it can be incredibly expensive. Municipalities and homeowners often spend millions of dollars annually trying to manage and control hydrilla infestations. Because of its ability to spread so rapidly and regrow from small plant fragments, eradication efforts must be thorough and ongoing to be successful. Without consistent hydrilla control in ponds and lakes, the plant will quickly return and continue to cause problems.
Affect Property Values
Homeowners with waterfront properties often see decreased property values when hydrilla infestations become severe. Since a pond or lake overrun with hydrilla is unattractive and limits recreational use, the property becomes less desirable to potential buyers. Thankfully, preemptive water treatments can help maintain property values and keep bodies of water in pristine condition.
Interrupt Water Flow
Hydrilla can also have serious consequences for water management systems. The thick mats of vegetation can block canals, drainage systems, and irrigation channels. Controlling hydrilla in these waterways is essential to maintaining proper water flow and preventing costly damage from flooding.
Harm Fish Population
While hydrilla may initially seem like a good habitat for fish, it often creates an environment that is unsuitable for them in the long run. As hydrilla overgrows, it reduces oxygen levels in the water, making it difficult for fish to survive. Additionally, when large amounts of hydrilla die and decompose, they further deplete oxygen, leading to massive fish kills. Proper hydrilla control is necessary for a balanced and healthy aquatic ecosystem.
Top Ways To Get Rid Of Hydrilla
If you’re dealing with a hydrilla infestation, it’s important to take action before it spreads further. Here are some of the most effective ways to get rid of hydrilla in ponds and lakes:
Mechanical Removal: Mechanical removal involves physically cutting and harvesting the hydrilla from the water using specialized equipment. While mechanical removal provides immediate results, it is not a long-term solution since hydrilla can regrow from small fragments left behind. To prevent reinfestation, mechanical harvesting should be combined with other biological and chemical techniques.
Biological Control: As a long-term solution to managing hydrilla plant growth, many property owners opt to use biological control methods. For example, they may stock their ponds with certain species of fish. Triploid grass carp is an excellent choice because it feeds on aquatic vegetation. Of course, the fish must be carefully managed to prevent them from consuming native plant species as well. It’s also important to note that grass carp can’t eradicate hydrilla completely, especially when the pond or lake is heavily overrun.
Chemical Control: Using EPA-approved aquatic herbicides is one of the most effective ways to treat hydrilla. These herbicides target the weed at its root system, preventing regrowth. Depending on the severity of the infestation, multiple treatments may be required.
As with any use of chemical treatment, it’s important to select the correct herbicide and application method to avoid harming native plants and aquatic life. Aquatic weed management professionals can help ensure herbicide treatments are applied safely and effectively.
Save Money By Preventing Hydrilla In The First Place
One of the best ways to manage hydrilla is to prevent it from overgrowing in the first place. By using Fluridone formulations, our experts at TIGRIS can help prevent chronic infestations that typically emerge in the summer months. We introduce this selective, systemic herbicide at the end of February to allow the product to be fully active when plants begin to grow in the spring. This proactive approach not only prevents hydrilla from reaching uncontrollable levels but also saves businesses, municipalities, and property owners from costly removal efforts later in the year.
Hydrilla Taking Over? We Can Help!
Is hydrilla getting caught on your boat propeller or killing off your fish population? If so, it’s time to take action before the problem gets worse. At Aquagenix, we specialize in hydrilla control and can help you reclaim your water body, whether that includes timely water treatments, fish stocking, or even aquatic planting. Ask our team of experts for a solution that meets your needs and your budget today!
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