Aquatic Weed Control

Controlling the growth of aquatic weeds in your water has never been simpler. Here at Aquatic Technologies, you’ll find a wide range of science-backed solutions, services and products for aquatic weed control.

Trying to figure out how to kill pond weeds? Our aquatic weed control services are your best bet in ensuring your aquatic weeds stay tamed. Using proven methods and highly effective aquatic weeding tools and hardware, our experts endeavour to fix your aquatic weed problems for good. From aquatic weed harvesters to pontoons, amphibious crafts and more high-tech applications, our expert-led services are your best bet when it comes to long-term weed control.

The Aquatic Technologies range of weed control tools and products include aquatic weed skimmers, herbicides, chemicals and other environmentally-friendly weeding tools. Manufactured and distributed by us, our tools of the trade are hand-vetted for quality and reliability.

How to identify free-floating aquatic weeds

Free-floating aquatic weeds have roots that are not attached to substrate that float on the water’s surface and are usually very small. They can appear anywhere across the surface of the waterbody, and in some instances, will completely cover the entire surface.

There are three common types of free-floating aquatic weeds:

1. "Duckweed" Lemna spp., Wolffia spp., or Spirodela spp.

Duckweed is a highly common free-floating aquatic weed. Very small in size with its leaves spanning just 1mm to 1cm, Duckweed often appears as a green cover on the surface of the water. A clear indication of nutrient-enriched water conditions, Duckweed grows fast in water that’s slow-moving or stationary.

Did you know?
If Duckweed goes untreated, it can literally double in numbers within five to seven days.

Lemna spp. "Duckweed"

2.“Azolla” Pacific Azolla or Ferny Azolla

Another common free-floating aquatic weed, its leaves span from 1cm to 2.5cm in diameter. Appearing primarily in a green shade and often turning red in the late afternoon and in strong sunlight, Azolla can have leaf structure similar to that of a common fern. Its roots reach below the water’s surface and if not treated, can double in size in just seven days.

Azolla filiculoides "Azolla"

3. Salvinia

This free-floating aquatic plant is declared as a noxious aquatic weed in all Australian states. With leaflets of up to 3cm wide and total size of up to 20cm long, Salvinia is covered in small ‘hairs’ that repel water and keep it from sinking. This harmful aquatic weed is capable of ‘choking’ a body of water and causing real damage. Potentially doubling its size in just five days under the right conditions, Salvinia can kill fish and quickly deteriorate your water quality if untreated.

Salvinia molesta "Salvinia"

How to identify emergent aquatic weeds

Emergent aquatic weeds have stems and leaves protruding above the water’s surface. These aquatic water weeds have roots anchored to the substrate, lakebed or floor of the water body and are most commonly found in shallower waters around the edges. This group includes grass-like and broad-leaved plants. Emergent plants most closely resemble land plants.

How to identify submerged aquatic weeds

Submerged aquatic weeds grow below the water’s surface, whether attached to substrate or not. Submerged plants have a tendency to protrude the water’s surface during different times of the year, often confusing them with emergent aquatic plants. A key difference is in the water depth and positioning of growth. Submerged aquatic plants have a tendency to grow in deeper waters, away from the edge.

How to identify floating attached aquatic weeds

Rooted-floating plants have underground stems (rhizomes) from which new plants can sprout and are commonly attached to the substrate, lakebed or floor of the water body. They are generally found in the shallower water around edges. Their stems, leaves or flowers may or may not protrude above the water’s surface.

How to control free-floating aquatic weeds

Weeds like Duckweed, Azolla and Salvinia can be difficult to get rid of due to their rapid growth rate under the right conditions. Depending on how serious your infestation is, treatments will vary. Small infestations will be easier to manage, whilst large ones require added effort to tame the growth.

Smaller infestations of aquatic weeds benefit from spray treatments. If the problem is larger, both sprays and physical removal of the weeds are required.

Effective methods of treatment can vary depending on the level of infestation. Treatments are most effective when the infestations are smaller rather than advanced. A ‘large’ infestation is usually when the weeds are covering 90-100% of the water surface.

How to control floating attached aquatic weeds

Floating attached aquatic weeds can be controlled by physical removal and aquatic herbicide.

Aquatic herbicide AQ200 must be applied with Power1000 Surfactant to effectively treat floating attached aquatic weeds.

How to control submerged aquatic weeds

Submerged aquatic weeds can be controlled by physical removal and aquatic herbicide.

How to control emergent aquatic weeds

Emergent aquatic weeds can be controlled by physical removal and aquatic herbicide.

Aquatic herbicide AQ200 must be applied with Power1000 Surfactant to effectively treat emergent aquatic weeds.

Vallisneria nana "Ribbonweed"

Juncus usitatus "Common Rush"