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Powdered
fertilizer, such as Biologic’s Perfect Pond Plus (12-48-8), requires
only 5 to 8 pounds per acre and does not have to be mixed with water or
placed on a platform. Simply throw the appropriate amount into the lake
with a scoop or pour from the side of a moving boat. This is the easiest
type of fertilizer to use and is very effective in developing and
maintaining a plankton bloom.
Just
as important as knowing when to fertilize your pond and what to use, is
knowing when not to fertilize. There is a lot of misinformation
regarding fertilizer, such as: "Fertilizing will make the fish quit
biting for a month," or "Fish don’t taste good out of a
fertilized pond," and "Fertilizer kills the weeds in your
pond." Not one of these old sayings is true, but none can be as
potentially devastating as the one about fertilizer killing weeds.
Each
spring we receive numerous calls about pond weeds which all begin the
same way: "I have fertilized three times this spring and the weeds
just seem to be growing," the pond owner will say. "Maybe we
started fertilizing a little late this year," the owner will
continue. If you fertilize once weeds are present, it is like adding
gasoline to a small fire, it can quickly get out of control.
Do
you use fertilizer to kill weeds in your garden or lawn? I doubt you do.
The more you fertilize weeds and algae in your pond, the more they grow!
Why did anyone ever think that fertilizer would kill weeds? If used
properly, pond fertilizer will create a green color (plankton bloom)
that will shade the bottom and prevent the penetration of sunlight, thus
inhibiting the growth of plants and algae from the bottom. This
statement became misinterpreted over the years to make people think that
fertilizer kills weeds.
Inspect
your pond in mid-February and early March for signs of rooted aquatic
plants or filamentous algae. Often your pond will be very clear in the
winter, allowing sunlight to penetrate to depths of 3 feet or more. This
often invites the production of winter filamentous algae. Look around
the pond margins and in the shallow coves or the upper end of the pond.
Try throwing a deep-diving crankbait to sample the bottom for weed or
algal growth. Do not fertilize if weeds or algae are present! Contact
a fisheries biologist or an aquatic-weed specialist to identify the
plant and provide control options. Control the growth of the weeds or
algae before beginning a fertilization program.
The
new powdered (crystalline) water-soluble fertilizer, such as Biologic’s
Perfect Pond Plus, is the preferred fertilizer for today’s pond
owners. An application rate of 5 pounds per surface acre will maintain a
good bloom. Fertilize approximately once a month or when the water
visibility exceeds 18 to 20 inches. For small ponds, you do not
have to walk around the pond, simply apply from one location with the
wind at your back. Fertilization could not be easier!
Keep
your fertilization program going; just do not feed the weeds!
Don
C. Keller is a Certified Fisheries Scientist and co-owner of American
Sport Fish Hatchery in Montgomery, Ala. He can be contacted at
334-281-7703 or
asfdon@charter.net. |
