Vegetation – Friend or Foe?

Don’t be lulled into favoring aquatic vegetation with an attractive yellow flower.  One week, the three-foot diameter bed of appealing green leaves and perky blossoms may look like a nice accent along the shoreline.  Before you know, the prolific plant has spread into a costly problem.

The plant is water primrose.  It’s a perennial that can develop runners up to 16 feet long across wet soil or surface of the water.  Bright yellow flowers have four or five petals and vary from one to two inches.

There is no biological control for primrose.  Successful ingredients for treating this common plant include 2,4-D, diquat, glyphosate, and imazapyr.  Popular chemical brands are Navigate, Reward, Renovate, Rodeo, and Habitat.

Consult a professional before applying.  Treating excess amounts may cause oxygen depletion and kill fish.