skip to main content

Ponds & Aquatic Plants

pond is being taken over by parrot feathers

16 years ago

Please Help,

My pond is being taken over by parrot feathers. my granddad planted them several years back and the entire pond was taken over. we drained the pond and now it is back up and running. its been 4 years since we drained it and now the parrot feathers are back!!! i have bought the pellets that will kill the parrot feather but i need to know if there is any type of fish that will help keep the growth to a minimum because the pellets are very expensive.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

bihai
16 years ago
In the past we found the only way to keep Parrot's Feather contained was to just keep pulling it out and composting it.
Whatever you do, in Alabama and any other Southern state, don't let it get into a natural body of water when you discard it!
0
noodlenoggan
16 years ago
Can I have some of the parrot feathers? I promise not to discard them into any natural body of waters.
0
Related Discussions
Fish Eating Parrots Feather Roots?
Q
Comments (5)
Joraines, Sorry about the fish that are making their way into your pond, mabey some kind of a net to stop them? Where the creek runs through your pond? There must be some kind of a net, or even weed cloth or something even a leaf net to stop the fish from entering. How to anchor it is another thing. Nice to hear from you, I've been keeping up with your pond stories, it's nice to hear someone from our state speak about their pond. There is a fine to own water hyacinth in South Carolina, but not water lettuce as far as I know. I don't know what Parrot feather is, it sounds nice, hope you can grow it out a bit in another baby pool so you still have it for the rest of the year, it'll probably last here til at least the beginning of November. I think all the rain lately is the culprit of the algae, although thankfully my pond is finally starting to clear a bit now since the rain has stopped, (now I jinxed myself), I have never seen this much rain. Good luck with your pond and hope you figure something out as to keeping the fish out.
...See More
Parrots feather, are they floaters or submerged?
Q
Comments (9)
If I buy a potted parrots feather, then the pot sits at the bottom of the 3' pond and they grow to the top of the water and stick out. If I can get them only as cut pieces, then I throw them in the pond and they still look the same. Any weights or rubber bands eventually fall off so I don't concern myself with replacing them. The tips stick out, the stems sort of hang down. I do remove them two or three times over the summer and cut off any part of the stem that looks like it is dead or dying. I don't know if this is the right way to handle them, but that's what I do. Anne
...See More
Parrot's Feather dying
Q
Comments (13)
Well... I moved some into the waterfall area and it seems to be doing ok. I just realized that my duck weed disapeared entirely too. I haven't used any fertilizer, salt or chemicals in the pond at all. It's been doing so well with minimum interference from me that I don't want to change anything! I may try to pull some parrot's feather and pot it up. I was going to try to overwinter some anyway. I'm sort of a "bird nut" so a plant called parrot's feather has some appeal! But if i doesn't want to grow for me I'll jsut try something else
...See More
parrots feather out of control
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks for the response guys..I see it's been awhile since I posted the question.I have a large farm pond,but we don't farm it's just used to fish and the doggies like to swim in it.It's too big to just go in and rip out the plants and I have made all sorts of contraptions to rake out the stuff,but it's just too big of a job. I decided to get some aquacide pellets and it sorta worked but it looks like we are going to need to put in multiple treatments.The pond is just too taken over by this stuff and it's so thick.I guess I'll just have to keep trying these pellets and hopefully one of these years it goes away.Never again will I put ANY kind of plant in my pond without reading all I can about it.It makes me so sad to look out and see how consumed the water is by this stuff.Thanks for all the responses!
...See More
gardnpondr
16 years ago
HOW in the world are you growing it in there? I am in Ms. and I have tried I don't know HOW MANY times to grow it in my pond and it never makes it. :( I have tried potting it, I have tried just putting weights on it and tossing it in etc. and never have gotten NONE :( to live in my pond.
0
fireant
16 years ago
I love the look of parrot feather. I put some in our pond again this year but the fish and frogs keep tearing it apart.
Michelle
0
mybusyfamily6
16 years ago
I would love some of your parrot feather if you get a desire to hassle with mailing some for postage. Mine all froze and I went to all the pond shops here and they don't have any.
0
kaysbelle
16 years ago
Parrots feather is non-existant in central Illinois - you could share some for postage if you don't mind boxing it up and shipping.
0
curb1
16 years ago
I pull it out each winter leaving just the remaining roots that don't get pulled. It comes back each summer really nicely.
0
morningstroll
16 years ago
You mean like this:

{{gwi:196942}}

I love it!

Just go with it, Mike. Seriously, though, I don't even have an open patch to put the fishes food in anymore. I wonder if there are fish in there still.

Like gardnpondr, I never was able to get it growing until last year. Don't know what happened. Should be easy to pull out though.
0

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Feathers for Your Nest

By Tiffany Carboni

Enjoy the natural beauty of dropped feathers in casual collections around the house

SIMPLE PLEASURES The Art of Being Neighborly

By Laura Gaskill

Learn the heartfelt gestures that go a long way toward creating a welcoming community

MOST POPULAR Trend Watch: 13 Kitchen Looks Expected to Be Big in 2015

By Natasha Saroca

3 designers share their thoughts on what looks, finishes and design elements will be on trend in the year ahead

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

GARDENING GUIDES Mid-Atlantic Gardener's January Checklist

Scatter berries while ye may, be kind to your fair-feathered friends and try a time-saving compost trick that will keep you out of the cold

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING How to Make a Pond

By Mitchell Parker

You can make an outdoor fish paradise of your own, for less than you might think. But you'll need this expert design wisdom

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Feed the Birds: 6 Plants for Abundant Winter Berries

By Therese Ciesinski

Be kind to your fair feathered friends during lean food times by planting a shrub or tree loaded with nutritious snacks

WORKING WITH PROS 17 Things Color Consultants Want You to Know

By Becky Harris

Dithering over potential palettes for your home? A color pro might be the way to go. Here's how it works

PETS See a Deluxe 'Catio' Built for Feline Fun

By Becky Harris

Sixteen lucky cats get the run of a protected outdoor patio with ramps, steps and even a koi pond

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Show Us Your One-of-a-Kind Chicken Coops

By Annie Thornton

Do you have a fun or stylish backyard shelter for your feathered friends? Post your pictures and stories in the Comments!

Sponsored

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

233 Reviews

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

More Discussions

Leak in my small inground prefab watergarden...?

1

pothos with yellow leaves

7

Stock tank cracked, New tank has brass drain

1

Growing impatiens in water

1

Where can I find Koi fish that need a home in Baltimore, Maryland?

1