Weeds are a nuisance because they deprive your landscape plants of the necessary nutrients as they compete with them for food. Moreover, they will ruin the look of your landscape after you’ve spent much time and effort picking and taking care of your plants.
And although several options can help you get rid of weeds fast, some of them won’t work if you want to eliminate the weeds growing around a pond.
So, what can I use to kill weeds around my pond? Is there a potent way to eliminate any unwanted weeds without harming nearby plants and, most importantly, the wildlife in the pond?
We’re here to answer all these questions, so let’s dive in.
Why Can’t I Use Any Weed Killer Around My Pond?
Nothing feels more frustrating than seeing an imposter growing among your precious landscape plants. And the worst part is that these annoying weeds find the most precious spots to ruin the landscape design you’ve spent so much time putting together.
Your pond is a centerpiece in your garden. It’s filled with attractive forms of wildlife and will immediately add to the appeal of your outdoor space.
Seeing unwanted weeds growing around the pond can be really frustrating. But luckily, some potent chemical weed killers can eradicate them once and for all.
So, you can just grab the strongest one and spray it on those ugly weeds, right?
Unfortunately, this isn’t possible, and if you do it, you’ll definitely regret your actions.
Risks of Chemical Weed Killers
Chemical weed killers are potent and can help you get rid of the weeds growing around your pond or anywhere in your garden. But using them next to your pond isn’t recommended.
First of all, chemical weed killers aren’t selective. This means that they will kill all the good and bad plants.
You’ll be getting rid of the weeds, but you’ll also end your precious plants’ lives.
Moreover, these weed killers can also harm pollinators and other forms of wildlife in your gardens, like birds and squirrels. Weeds are annoying, but they represent a valuable food source for different animals, birds, and bugs.
But most importantly, some of these chemicals will deposit in the soil and find their way to the pond. They can negatively affect the fish and other aquatic life forms and eventually kill them.
This is why you need to think a little before you use the strongest chemicals at the home improvement store. You also need to think about the type of weeds you’re dealing with.
What Can I Use to Kill Weeds Around My Pond?
Weeds inside and around the pond can be an essential ecosystem component. For example, in the pond, they might provide some forms of aquatic life with food and shelter.
Outside the pond, they will conceal bugs that different aquatic life forms can eat.
Yet, the problem starts when these weeds grow excessively to kill the plants around your pond or cover the water’s surface to change its look.
They might also make the water unhealthy for some sensitive fish, as they can block the sun. If their root systems are too strong, they might even damage the foundation of the pond.
There are actually different types of weeds that might disturb the look of your pond. Each one of them represents a certain threat and should be handled differently.
Inside the Water
Chelated copper can potently kill algae that have no roots. It’s safely used as a supplement that offers several health benefits, and it doesn’t deposit in the bodies of fish or make them sick.
UV clarifiers are also used to clear smaller areas of algae by breaking them down. The UV light is safe for your fish, aquatic animals, and microorganisms in the pond, but it destroys algae at a cellular level.
Introducing some plant-loving aquatic life forms can help you get rid of annoying weeds. Some fish species, like goldfish and koi, are known to feed on annoying aquatic plants like water lettuce and water lilies.
Outside the Water
You can try the following methods for weeds that grow around the pond.
Manual Removal
If you see weeds growing excessively around your pond, you can pull them by hand. Manual pulling is a time-consuming task, but it’s the safest option because it involves no toxic chemicals.
You can also follow this technique if you’re trying to remove some of the weeds growing on top of the water.
Just use a rake or a shovel to remove all of the root systems, as most weeds will grow from any root traces you’ve left in the soil. Floating weeds have floating roots that don’t touch the soil, so tossing them away will work.
Toss the removed weeds away from the water, as they might deplete the oxygen in the pond as they decompose.
Hot Water
Hot water can potentially kill any weeds around the pond within a few days. Just heat an adequate amount of water and pour it over the undesirable weeds.
Repeat as necessary, and stay away from any good plants you want to keep. It takes a few days to work, but hot water is perfectly safe.
Use a Barrier
If weeds continue to come back, you can use a weed-barrier fabric after you’ve removed all of them.
Barrier fabrics provide two benefits. First, they kill any roots or remnants of weeds under the material by depriving them of sun and water.
Second, they prevent any weed seeds from setting into the soil and growing into a new plant.
You can decorate this barrier with rocks and other hardscape elements to blend with your pond.
Homemade Weed Killer
Homemade weed killers are safer than chemical ones, but they can still deposit in the water. So, you need to be careful about where and how you’re using them.
You can prepare a weed killer of 1 teaspoon of gin, apple cider vinegar, dish soap, and one quart of water. You can also mix one quart of vinegar with four ounces of lemon juice.
Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice on the weeds for a few days to burn them.
These solutions will kill the weeds around the pond, and they’re not toxic to the fish.
Safe Chemicals
Some chemicals can help you get rid of weeds inside and outside the pond, and they won’t harm your fish.
Fluridone is an organic compound that kills plants by preventing them from forming a film that protects chlorophyll from breaking down. So, the plant won’t be able to store food.
The best thing about this organic compound is that it breaks quickly in water, so it has less impact on your aquatic wildlife.
However, it’s a slow-acting herbicide that takes more than a month to show results.
Final Thoughts
Chemical weed killers can kill your weeds in no time, but they might harm the aquatic life forms growing in a pond. They can also kill some of the good landscape plants.
Luckily, there are several safe methods that can be used inside and outside the pond to get rid of all annoying weeds. Some methods take more time, but they’re totally safe.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel