Blog

Nothing ruins a trip to the beach like having to navigate around or through piles of rotting seaweed to get to the water. This is why Sargassumhas earned a place on our list of the worst water weeds. This genus of macroalgae (seaweed), started making headlines back in 2015 when huge amounts of it started

Much of the country is deep into the freezing temperatures and snowfalls of winter, but it’s never too early to start thinking about how you’re going to get an edge when spring water weeds emerge in full force. It can take you by surprise – especially if you didn’t take some key winter water protection

Silt Removal from Ponds and Other Water Bodies Ponds in nature don’t last forever because of silt buildup caused by leaves and aquatic plants that settle to the bottom and decompose into sediment. Most ponds eventually become dry land. People who want to keep their ponds alive and thriving will eventually have to deal with

In the ongoing battle against water weeds in the ponds, rivers, lakes and wetlands across the nation, there is always the temptation to turn to chemicals in order to get the upper hand. This is understandable, especially if you are facing a major infestation of any of the highly invasive water weeds we’ve written about

This particular plant is widely known as the “common reed,” but the havoc it is causing on wetlands in various parts of the United States is anything but, which is why it definitely makes our list of the worst water weeds. In the world of scientific botany, the genus is known as Phragmites, with four

On February 2 in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, crowds of people waited for the weather prognosticating groundhog named Phil to emerge and make his annual prediction about how much more winter there would be this year. If the large rodent sees his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter. If

Mechanical harvesting versus chemical herbicides is the great debate when it comes to tackling water weed problems. When you’re faced with an infestation of any of the water weeds we’ve covered in previous articles (and there are plenty more to talk about as well), you can feel so overwhelmed and frustrated that you just want

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a floating plant that can grow in all types of fresh-water habitats. Its height above the water can vary from a few inches to as high as three feet. It has broad, glossy, leathery oval-shaped leaves and produces a deceptively pretty lavender or pinkish flower. The stalks are long, spongy

Fish farm sediment issues can be a major headache for people engaged in aquaculture. The accumulation of silt and sediment, a process referred to as siltation or siltification, over time can reduce the volume of a fish pond to the point where fish farming is no longer viable. There are also other negative potential impacts

With this article, we get back to exploring invasive exotic species, and this time it’s the water chestnut or water caltrop (Trapa natans), not to be confused with the Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) that you can buy in cans in grocery stores and used in Western-style Chinese food. The water chestnut is a floating

Most people call them cattails, although you’ll come across those who refer them as “punks” or even as “corn dog grass.” If you happen to be British, you’re more likely to call them “bulrushes” or “reedmace.” They are members of the scientific family of Typhaceae, large marsh plants sporting the telltale brownish compact “flower” that some think looks

Duckweed makes our list of worst water weeds because it can be a huge nuisance to ponds and other still water bodies. There are many different species of this flowering floating aquatic plant, most of which are native, but at least one of which is exotic. What they all have in common, however, is that

Commonly called Eurasian Watermilfoil or Spiked Watermilfoil, this invasive exotic water weed is becoming as widespread and as troublesome as Hydrilla. It’s on the list of 79 different invasive and exotic aquatic plants maintained by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Although its feathery appearance is attractive, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force,

The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health lists a total of 79 different invasive and exotic aquatic plants that can be found in various parts of the United States. Some are wreaking more havoc than others, but one of the worst of all is hydrilla. It has invaded across much of the southern United