How to Kill Water Hyacinths

Water hyacinths are an invasive aquatic plant that grows fast and quickly spreads. This innocent looking plant will take over your pond or lake, suffocating other aquatic plants as well as preventing water flow. In addition, the aggressive plant can starve the water of oxygen, which is fatal for aquatic wildlife such as fish. Killing water hyacinths is a rather difficult process, but a few methods can help eliminate the problem plants.

Waders
Rubber gloves
Garbage bag
Chemical-resistant rubber gloves
Aquatic herbicide
Garden sprayer

Instructions

- 1
  Wear a pair of waders and rubber gloves. Gain access to the water infested with the hyacinths and manually remove the aquatic plant life from the water. Toss the plants onto the nearby bank. Once you have removed the plants, put them in a garbage bag or place them in a compost pile.
- 2
  Put on chemical-resistant rubber gloves. Mix herbicide designed for water hyacinths in a garden sprayer. Most herbicides require diluting with water. Refer to your specific aquatic herbicide for the recommended water to chemical ratio.
- 3
  Spray the unwanted water hyacinths with the aquatic herbicide until lightly coated with the chemical.
- 4
  Repeat the process 7 to 10 days after the initial treatment. Each type of herbicide has its own retreatment rate. Refer to the label of your specific herbicide for more information.

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