Control of Aquatic Plants

Control - Chemical

The use of chemicals such as Clarosan in still water for submerged weeds is ideal but it is still a difficult operation. No more than 30% of the surface area of water can be treated in one application. Clarosan is classed as a self dispersant and if you are not treating the whole water body or may still have weed left in the areas where the Clarosan was originally placed.

All inlets and outlets must be closed for at least 10 days. A still water is defined as a water body which is moving less than 5 metres per hour. This can be applied by hand or broadcaster. Glyphosate can be used to spray emerged plants such as bull rushes and lilies. This would be applied with a knapsack, quad bike with booms, hand lance or boat mounted sprayer.

If the water is moving between 5 and 90 metres per hour and has no floating sediment present then a viscous gel formation is specially designed for flowing water, but can be used in still waters. On contact it gives rapid control of submerged weeds and certain floating weeds. Only weeds in the immediate vicinity of the treated area are affected, so making par treatment of the waterway possible.

Control - Environmental

By introducing indigenous plants to reduce the nutrient level in the water and strategic planting of willows and alders to reduce the light around the pond.

Control - Mechanical

By cutting weeds and rushes with our specialised equipment. This method is used when chemical methods are not accepted.

Control - Biological

Introducing certain species of fish such as carp, bream, and grass carp will help reduce weed growth.

All staff are qualified to NPTC standards: PA-1, PA-2A, PA-5A, PA-6B. All Environment Agency consents must be obtained before any work is carried out.

Supply

Mainstream Fisheries can supply a full range of aquatic plants, lilies and marginals direct to the customer. They can be purchased bare rooted or potted. We also provide a full planting and delivery service.

Weed Control

Logic sprayer with 190 litres capacity, 3.5 metre booms with hedge row nozzle, hand lance with 15 metre hose for the hard to reach places. All booms are fitted with brake back clutches on each wing to ensure no damage when working close to fences and hedges. All nozzles can be operated individually therefore one nozzle will give you a swath width of approximately one metre, which could be either behind the bike or to the side, ideal for kerb edges and hedge rows. Two nozzles would give two metres swath width and again this can be to the left or right side of the quad bike or to the rear. Normal application for a two metres swath width would be four metres for the larger areas. The large capacity of 190 litres enables us to have more spraying time as we would not need to keep stopping to refill with water. Normally 190 litres of water and concentrate will last all day. This will also apply to the hand lance. The hand lance is ideal for working in shrub belts and in confined areas, just as you would use a normal knapsack.

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