SPECIALIST NUTTALL’S WATERWEED CONTROL SERVICES

OUR SPECIALIST CONTROL SERVICES WILL TREAT OR ERADICATE THIS SPECIES. TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE NUTTALL’S WATERWEED USE OUR FREE ID TOOL OR BOOK A SURVEY

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treatment & removal

Nuttall’s waterweed can be treated with a suitable aquatic herbicide and/or mechanical cutting. Plant suppression can also be effective though this impedes water usage whilst the treatment is being carried out, so not suitable in all cases.

To find out the best way to control or remove Nuttall’s waterweed and the best time of year to have treatment or eradication carried out get in touch.

WHY IS NUTTALL’S WATERWEED A PROBLEM

Nuttall’s waterweed is one of the most difficult invasive water weeds to control. It’s ability to deplete native species means it poses a serious threat. It reproduces through fragmentation, whereby fragments of the plant break off and form new plants. This means control methods need to be vigorous to stop it spreading.

ABOUT NUTTALL’S WATERWEED

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elodea nuttallii
ORIGIN: North America

Nuttall’s water weed (often confused with Canadian waterweed) is a fully submerged aquatic plant that is native to North America but has become invasive in the UK.  It forms dense mats that float on the water surface, which can reduce light penetration, and oxygen levels in the water.

• Long, slender stems and bright green leaves that are pointed at the tip.
• Soft green whorled leaves typically 1cm long.
• Leaves are arranged in groups of three or four around the stem.
• Non-flowering.
• Can grow up to 3m in length.
• Distinctive red ring where leaves shoot from the stem.

HABITAT

It is commonly found in rivers, lakes, and canals, it thrives in inland surface waters such as estuaries, also commonly found in drainage channels.

IMPACT: HIGH

Poses a major risk to native biodiversity and native ecosystems in slow-flowing or still waters due to its capacity to spread rapidly and establish a thick, dense carpet. It out-competes most native species and cause large fluctuations with the amount of oxygen within the watercourse causing harm to fish and invertebrates. Their dense growth often impedes flow of slow moving waterways which can exacerbate flooding.

TOXICITY: ZERO

Nuttall’s waterweed presents no physical danger to either humans or animals.