Many people ask how to get rid of water lilies. The following options can be considered for how to control water lilies.
Manual/Mechanical Control:
If you are considering how to remove water lilies, physically pulling the plants and digging up the roots can be a somewhat effective method of control. However, physical control can be difficult. Water lilies can re-grow from any rhizomes or seeds remaining in the water.
Herbicide Control:
There are multiple options for how to kill water lilies which offer great control.
- Cattail and Water Lily Control (Imox + surfactant) (for ponds or lakes) – liquids that are mixed and diluted with water and sprayed over the plants.
- Spritflo(for ponds with no outflow) – liquid that is poured and spreads throughout the entire body of water, offers extended control.
- Liquid 2, 4-D (for ponds or lakes) – liquid that is diluted with water and sprayed over the plants. Most effective on treatment areas larger than a half-acre, this allows longer contact-exposure time.
- Navigate 2, 4-D (for lakes) – granules that are broadcast over the plants.
Treatment Tips:
- With Imox or other systemic herbicides, treatment is most effective when the plants are mature or close to full grown. This allows for more plant surface to spray enough mixture on.
- Treat in late summer to early fall to get better kill of the root systems. At this time, plants are pulling energy into their roots to store for the winter.
- Spritflo can be used at the first signs of growth.
- 2, 4-D options will kill the plants before they break the surface of the water but will not kill the roots.
