Sago Pondweed

Submerged weeds in ponds are very diverse in appearance and in management protocols.  This is another common pondweed we will be presenting in the Submerged Pond Weeds Series.

Sago pondweed is in the common pondweed family (Potamogeton), can grow quickly and comes on early to the middle of the season.  It can become quite prolific and can mix with other weeds, such as small leaf pondweed or American pondweed.  It is quite a nuisance as it clogs up boat propellers and tangles fishing lures.

Sago pondweed has a very distinct leaf structure and shape.  It has an alternate leaf structure and has a long slender leaf.  The individual leaf is long (2-12 in. long) and slender (1/16 in. wide), but when in the water, the plant looks thick and grass like.  It is often confused with horned pondweed, but can be differentiated by the leaf structure: sago pondweed has an alternate leaf structure and horned pondweed has an opposite leaf structure.

Sago pondweed is controlled effectively with Tsunami DQ, a diquat dibromide product that burns the weed back to the root.  One must use one gallon of Tsunami DQ per acre to achieve control.  One application is usually sufficient to gain control; however, it could take up to three to eliminate it.

Applications of Crystal Blue or Black Out should be used early in the season and maintained throughout the season to decrease the likelihood of excessive weed growth.

As with most pondweeds, one should be prepared to treat an algae bloom about a week or two after application, as the disintegrating weed vegetation releases a lot of nutrients into the pond.

Contact Sanco for more information on treating your pond growth.