itchy trigger Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 hi all, a couple of us have taken on a small shoot with an overgrown pond, there is only a very small area of open water the majority has been taken over by reeds, there are duck using it at the moment, we normaly see half a dozen come off when we go down, the question is, how do we clear the reeds to get more open water? there is deep silt, you can push sticks down 6 - 8 foot, so getting in to get at it is a problem is there a spray we could use? We have thought about grass carp but do not know if thats a workable option, would they work with reeds? so hopefully looking for a less labour intensive solution than manually dragging it out with ropes, as there's a lot thanks it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Is there room to get a machine to the edge? Also how big is the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Do you have access to a small boat fro which you can cut the reeds back. Grass carp are not your answer. Dragging may be your best bet to create enough margin to feed, but a mornings/days work should be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Big ol' digger is what you need, I reckon! Please don't try to spray them with anything, it's not going to do any good to the wildlife in the rest of the pond & you might find the ducks abandon it anyway if their food source disappears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchy trigger Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 ponds a good size, say around 50 x 80 yards, small island in the middle, the small clear area is in the only machine accessable area, its a pity, but can't get to the overgrown parts with a machine, because of tree's or the ground's to bad, as we have machines available to us, did not really want to spray and the grass carp was only a thought as they use them to keep waterways clear, as there are only three of us and we are all knocking on a bit (old) was just hoping for a less labour intensive solution than dragging. it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black powder gunner Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Yes you can spray the reeds rushes water lilies with round up pro biactive you have to hold a city and guilds pa6aw certificate and apply to environment agency for a licence which involves filling a form in. They will then come and visit you and inspect.the area to be sprayed if every thing is okay you can then spray the pond.You only spray upto 20% of the area and not in the same area so the rotting vegetation does not take the oxygen out of the water which can kill the fish we use a knapsack sprayer with extended lance either from the bank or a boat leave for about 6 weeks then do another area but always leave a section of the pond not sprayed this will leave an area of refuge for fish and animals to hide from prediters herons and cormorants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brixsmaid Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Had a similar situation years ago in Kent. We did it the semi-hard way - brushcutters and head down, we could wade it though, but no reason you couldn't do it from a small boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr pigeon Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Employ a couple of young fit chaps to get it there and pull them up. Or as a local fishing club if they want some. Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 Nice long LONG length of heavy chain and a Landrover or winch, this is how most fisheries cut weed and drag rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 Nice long LONG length of heavy chain and a Landrover or winch, this is how most fisheries cut weed and drag rush exactley...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misser Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 sounds as though it would be well worth the effort in opening it up quite a lot...especially with the size of it and the fact that duck are already using it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I sprayed mine with roundup probiactive in october and cleared all the bullrushes i sprayed one patch of lillys as well but didn't do any harm to the fish i think its was 25ml to one 16 liter knapsack and it cleared every thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 My flight pond is being over taken by sedge think roundup may be the answer, I have strimmed it in the past but would like a more perminant solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guss109 Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I sprayed mine with roundup probiactive in october and cleared all the bullrushes i sprayed one patch of lillys as well but didn't do any harm to the fish i think its was 25ml to one 16 liter knapsack and it cleared every thing That's one weak mix I normally mix up 250ml to 10ltr but saying that I don't use it on ponds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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