Aquacide Blog — Water Weed Rake

False Loosestrife (Ludwigia palustris) is a perennial commonly found throughout the Upper Midwest along the muddy shores of freshwater streams, rivers and ponds. It has lance-shaped leaves ½ to 2-½” long, both floating and submersed.  Leaves can be alternate or oppositely attached with smooth toothless edges that taper at the tip.  Roots form in the stem joints.  It has a small inconspicuous 4-sided flower in the leaf axils that bloom in August through September. False Loosestrife reproduces from seed. Control methods: 1)  Physical removal.  Easily pulled by weed raking or cutting with Water Weed Rake, Weed Raker or Weed Razer. To reduce...

Chara (Starwort or skunkweed) is a light green form of algae.  It has around 6 spike-like branches whorled around each node. Chara is often confused for Coontail, a rooted weed. It has no flower, stays submerged and never rises above the water surface. Mid-season, as it matures, Chara will have a crunchy or gritty texture due to calcium carbonate deposits on the leaves. When crushed, Chara has a musty odor. Chara will keep bottom sediment from erosion. It is important fish habitat and food for small aquatic animals, ducks, trout, bluegills and bass. It grows rapidly and can easily take...

Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) is an annual aquatic weed found mainly in the northeastern United States. Water Chestnut has triangular or diamond-shaped leaves with toothed edges. The leaves cluster in floating rosettes attached to an inflated spongy central stem. Rosettes have small, white 4-petaled, flowers and may produce up to 20 seeds. Each seed has four sharply pointed spines. Seeds fall from the weed, overwinter at the bottom and germinate in spring as weather warms. Water Chestnut grows primarily in mucky, nutrient rich water in up to 5 foot depths. One acre of Water Chestnut can spread to 100 acres within...

Hundreds, possibly thousands of crappie, walleye, bass and muskie were found in November, belly-up under the ice in Owasso Lake, Shoreview, Minnesota. One of the even measured 48 inches long! Shoreview homeowners thought low water levels from the recent drought caused low oxygen levels which killed the fish. Rumors also spread that aquatic herbicides used for lake weed treatment were the culprit. The DNR did confirm individual permits are issued to property owners for aquatic weed control, however, the last treatments were made in August, and had no on the fish after treatment. A spokesman for DNR also stated there...

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a perennial that originated in Europe and spread to North America in the early 19th century. The weed was originally introduced as an ornamental plant and for medicinal use. It was also introduced as a contaminant in ship ballast. Purple Loosestrife grows 4 to 10 feet tall. The square rigid four-sided stems have fine hairs and are reddish purple. Leaves are oppositely attached and slightly heart-shaped at the base coming to a point at the tip.  Each weed produces a showy spike of bright purplish flowers on a tall stem, visible from June until September....