Purple Loosestrife
Identifying Purple Loosestrife
Physical Characteristics
Leaves:
- Elliptical-sword shaped
- 2-3 inches long
- Paired or whorled around stem
Flowers:
- Oval-shaped petals
- Purple, red, lavender, or blue in color
- Showy
Stem:
- 3+ feet tall
Controlling Purple Loosestrife In Lakes And Ponds
Physical Management of Purple Loosestrife
Purple Loosestrife has a root system which means the roots need to be destroyed to prevent the plant from coming back.
Products To Physically Manage Purple Loosestrife
Our WeedShear measures 49 inches in width and features a v-shaped razor sharp stainless steel blades that easily cuts through Purple Loosestrife at its roots. This product comes with a hand held sharpener, a 25 foot polypropylene rope and folds up for easy storage.
To use the WeedShear, simply give it a toss out into your lake or pond and let it sink to the bottom. Once it hits the bottom, simply use a jerking motion to drag the WeedShear along the bottom of the lake or pond.
Herbicide Control of Purple Loosestrife
Herbicide control is a great option for Purple Loosestrife because you can literally apply the herbicide and then sit back and let it do its work. Most herbicides can control Purple Loosestrife throughout the season and only needs to be applied once a year.
Herbicide Products To Control Purple Loosestrife
- Rodeo Herbicide
Rodeo herbicide is extremely effective at killing Purple Loosestrife at their roots and preventing them from coming back for years. Its active ingredient is Glyphosate† N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, isopropylamine salt which has shown to be practically not-toxic to freshwater invertebrates.
After applying Rodeo herbicide you should start to see results within 2 to 4 days and within 7 to 10 days your Purple Loosestrife problem should disappear. However, you want to make sure there is no rain in sight for 6 hours after applying for maximum results.