Submerged Pond Weeds - The Milfoil Family

Submerged weeds in ponds are very diverse in appearance and in management protocols.  This is the first weed family we will be presenting in the Submerged Pond Weeds Series.

There are three main members of the water milfoil.  From the common native water milfoil to the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil and on to the ultra invasive parrotfeather, the milfoil family is aggressive and one of the most difficult to control.

Milfoil has a very distinct leaf structure and shape.  It is whorled around the stem and is actually one of the few weeds that is compound in leaf structure.  The individual leaf looks very much like a feather, but when in the water each plant looks like a bottle brush.

Water milfoil is controlled effectively with Tsunami DQ, a diquat dibromide product that burns the weed back to the root.  One must use two gallons of Tsunami DQ per acre to achieve control.  This should be applied a minimum of two applications two weeks apart.