Our recently acquired property has a pasture pond. Before us, it was used for cattle drinking water. We have no cattle, but have someone keeping the hay cut for us. The location of the pond does not allow a tractor to cut up to the edge of the pond because of the incline. It's really beginning to grow up badly. We use Remedy and Grazone with a 25 gallon sprayer and long hose, on a small trailer which we pull with a 4-wheeler, along roadsides, etc. Now, to my question. If we spray around the pond, will this in any way harm any fish in the pond or the wildlife that use the pond for drinking. We know that deer and other wildlife slip up to the pond to drink at night. Country Lady
I would never use that sort of thing on anything, and, yes, I would say that it will cause all sorts of harm. Of course, this is a long debate and you will find many people here who would say I worry too much. When I think of getting rid of brush, the first thing I think of is goats.
You don't want to use most herbicides around the pond, however you can use a hand sprayer and a herbicide that works on the bark. Its still a lot of work spraying each bush but it beats clearing by hand. I used Garlon 4, its expensive but it works and you can apply it in late winter when it easier to get to the brush. Advantages Effective year-round for selective control of trees and brush. Can be applied at any time of year, including the winter months, except when snow or water prevent spraying at the desired height above ground level. Year-round usage allows efficiency in crew allocation and supervision. Can be used where foliar applications arenât convenient, such as on steep or uneven terrain. Applications are targeted, greatly reducing the potential for injury to off-target vegetation. Minimized impact on environmentally sensitive or erosion prone areas. How basal bark treatments work Young bark is lipophilic, meaning its structure acts like an open lattice, and allows fatty substances to move readily within it. That is why Release or Garlon 4 mixed with an oil carrier is able to move within and through young bark tissue. Basal bark treatments work best on young tender bark. This inward movement reaches and penetrates the cambium (conductive tissue) and results in the herbicide creating a chemical girdle of the stem. Complete control depends on the stem being entirely encircled â termed âwrap.â Once the chemical girdle is formed, it acts like a physical girdle to prevent downward movement of nutrients to the roots, thus eventually killing the treated plant.
fire is a goodthing, if it is manageable this time of year for you. i've also used a regular lawn mower to mow grass around the pond. jena
_Most_ sprays are very harmful to fish if the spray directly hits the water. As well as many of the surficants that are used with sprays. It is illegal for you to use these sprays on or next to water. Rodeo is the way to go, as someone else mentioned. it is the water-safe version of Roundup. --->Paul
why mess with the watershed...?If you would leave the trees and brush you will have more wildlife,provide a better buffer around the pond which will in turn allow other animals to use it
It sounds like Rodeo is the way to go for right now. I'd really like to burn around the pond, but I'm just too afraid of it getting out of control. Don't need that!! Thanks all for your thoughts. Country Lady
Does anyone know of any chain stores that stock rodeo? I haven't been able to find it. we have a terrible water primrose problem in one of our ponds, and rodeo is what the experts say to use.
Cutting down all of the stuff around the pond may not be good for the fish either. Bugs live on the weeds and they get blown into the water therefore feeding the fish. I consider the tall weeds around a pond to be apart of that ponds chain of life. At least don't cut them all down.
