Water Milfoil Control: How To Get Rid of Water Milfoil

Water Milfoil is an invasive species of aquatic weed and tends to be very aggressive wherever established. Also known as Eurasian Water Milfoil, the plant is a submersed aquatic weed that originally comes from Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. Some of the key characteristics of this weed are its soft, feather-like leaves and whorl arrangement.

Aside from being annoying to deal with, Water Milfoil provides no nutritional value to wildlife nor fishes underwater. This works in the plants' favor because with nothing eating at the Water Milfoil, it will just grow and grow.

Water Milfoil spreads by floating pieces which re-root and also by special reproductive buds that break off the plant and are dispersed by water currents and birds. If left unchallenged, Water Milfoil can quickly overtake the water and make for a very ugly sight and hinder activities like fishing, swimming, and water skiing.

If you are encountering Water Milfoil on your body of water, our helpful guide below has all the steps and tools needed to get rid of them quickly and affordably.

Identification

Water Milfoil has a distinctive appearance with its leaves being whorled in groups of 4. Each Water Milfoil leaf is divided into many thread-like leaflets extending from a central rib. When on the surface of the water, Water Milfoil forms tangled patches. Seed heads form in mid to late season and may extend above the water surface.

Using this description and image will help you to identify whether Water Milfoil is growing in your pond. If you need help identifying the plant, contact us and we will try to assist you.

Inspection

Walk around your lake or pond to observe the Water Milfoil and to see just how big of an infestation there is. This is important for the purpose of knowing how much chemical product you will need to treat the weed. An inspection should also help you in determining the best and safest plan of option there is to take for control. You would not want to harm any beneficial desired vegetation, fishes and other aquatic creatures.

Where to Inspect

Water Milfoil is an opportunistic species and likes water conditions that have excessive sediment and nutrients. They also like to thrive in waters that are rich with nitrogen and phosphorous such as on a farm or agricultural pond when these nutrients can runoff into the water. Water Milfoil tends to multiply in large numbers when water temperatures rise.

What to Look For

You should be looking for Water Milfoil is a submerged plant but you will be able to see it, especially if it's a big infestation, bunched up in large mats. Check for those feathery leaves attached to a stem that can reach up to 9 feet long.

Treatment

Before carrying out chemical applications, make sure to first put on the necessary PPE in the form of gloves, glasses and a particle mask for safety. Our top recommended product to treat Water Milfoil is 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide. The active ingredient in this product does a great job in killing Water Milfoil and they also can control a large range of other problematic aquatic weeds.

Step 1 - Prepare and Mix the 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide

Before mixing and application, you will need to calculate the size of the water body you wish to treat to determine how much 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide you will need. For water bodies, the measurement is usually done by calculating the acreage or acre-foot. To do this, measure the length, width, and average depth of the water body in feet then divide by 43,560 (Length (ft.) x Width (ft.) x Average Depth (ft.) / 43,560 = Acre-feet).

According to the label, 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide should be applied at 2.84 gallons of product per acre foot.

Step 2 - Apply 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide to target Pond Weeds

Once the 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide is well-mixed. Depending on the targeted weed and the waters depth, you can spray the herbicide over the water along the shoreline, spot treat emerged weeds, or broadcast spray over the waters surface. Use a fan spray nozzle to ensure an even coating on the water surface.

Step 3 - Follow Up Applications

Depending on the size of your pond or lake, you may need to conduct treatment in sections, waiting 2 weeks between treatments until you have treated the entire body of water. Reapplication may be necessary 21 days after the initial application is complete. Water Milfoil can be a stubborn weed to remove so monitoring your water is key and repeated application is crucial to get complete control.

Prevention

To keep Water Milfoil from coming back after removal, we recommend applying Vision Pond Dye. Vision Pond Dye puts a stop to plant development by blocking sunlight into the water and also gives your pond a clean blue color.

Measure the appropriate amount of Vision Pond Dye into a bucket based on your pond area measurement findings. The label recommends applying at a rate of 1 quart per 1 surface acre of water at a 5-foot average depth.

Pour the pond dye over the edge directly into the body of water and the water's natural movement will disperse the dye.

Key Takeaways

• Water Milfoil is a submerged weed that is very aggressive and known to create large dense infestations.
• 2,4-D Amine Selective Post-Emergent Herbicide is our top recommendation for treating Water Milfoil and successfully removing it from a water property.
• Applying Vision Pond Dye after treatment as a great preventative measure that prevents Water Milfoil regrowth and can restore the look of your pond, giving it a natural blue color.