duck weed in my pond - Ask Extension
I have a man made pond in my yard. It got infested with duck weed. I am a widow who needs help getting rid of this problem. What should I do?
Knowledgebase
duck weed in my pond #873458
Asked June 17, 2024, 2:17 PM EDT
I have a man made pond in my yard. It got infested with duck weed. I am a widow who needs help getting rid of this problem. What should I do?
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Sandra!
Thank you for reaching out to MSU Extension with your question about duckweed control in your pond.
Duckweed is native to Michigan's waters and is an important food source for waterfowl like mallard ducks. Some fish also consume it. It is also a valuable part of pond habitat. For example, reptiles and amphibians use duckweed for shelter or to ambush prey and dragonflies rest on it and lay their eggs within it. Learn more about duckweed (the world's smallest flowering plant!!) and see a happy frog enjoying it here.
Therefore, you could consider leaving it alone in your pond and it would be just fine.
However, if you've decided that you do not want duckweed covering your pond for aesthetic reasons, there are some control options. Depending on the size of your pond, you could remove it with a rake, pond skimmer or other kind of net. It is a floating plant and easy to remove that way.
If your pond has goldfish, they eat duckweed - but again, their ability to control it depends on the size of your pond.
Finally - last resort - there are some chemical herbicides that could be applied to control it. Note that herbicides can have a damaging affect on other plants and the animals that live in your pond, so be sure to review your options carefully and either hire a professional to apply it or follow the instructions very carefully to make sure you minimize unintended harm to other pond residents.
The State of Michigan lists Diquat Bromide as an approved duckweed control pesticide. You can find a list of approved pesticide applicators in Michigan here.
Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
-Jo
Thank you for reaching out to MSU Extension with your question about duckweed control in your pond.
Duckweed is native to Michigan's waters and is an important food source for waterfowl like mallard ducks. Some fish also consume it. It is also a valuable part of pond habitat. For example, reptiles and amphibians use duckweed for shelter or to ambush prey and dragonflies rest on it and lay their eggs within it. Learn more about duckweed (the world's smallest flowering plant!!) and see a happy frog enjoying it here.
Therefore, you could consider leaving it alone in your pond and it would be just fine.
However, if you've decided that you do not want duckweed covering your pond for aesthetic reasons, there are some control options. Depending on the size of your pond, you could remove it with a rake, pond skimmer or other kind of net. It is a floating plant and easy to remove that way.
If your pond has goldfish, they eat duckweed - but again, their ability to control it depends on the size of your pond.
Finally - last resort - there are some chemical herbicides that could be applied to control it. Note that herbicides can have a damaging affect on other plants and the animals that live in your pond, so be sure to review your options carefully and either hire a professional to apply it or follow the instructions very carefully to make sure you minimize unintended harm to other pond residents.
The State of Michigan lists Diquat Bromide as an approved duckweed control pesticide. You can find a list of approved pesticide applicators in Michigan here.
Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
-Jo
