SPECIALIST water hyacinth CONTROL SERVICES

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

treatment & removal

Water hyacinth can be treated with a suitable aquatic herbicide however as it is a floating species mechanical methods such as skimming can also be used.

Biological methods of control however are often the most effective, such as introducing arthropods to the affected area, which feed the leaves of Water hyacinth. The most common and effective arthropods are weevils, but pathogens, bacteria, fungus, and viruses can also be effective. As the plant waste is deemed as special ‘controlled waste’ it will need to be taken to a suitably licensed landfill.

To find out the best way to control or remove Water hyacinth and the best time of year to have treatment or eradication carried out get in touch.

WHY IS WATER HYACINTH A PROBLEM?

Water hyacinth can completely cover lakes and other large waterbodies, making treatment and removal a large project. This invasive plant is banned for sale in the EU, with Kew Gardens being one of the few places in the UK with a licence to grow it.

ABOUT WATER HYACINTH

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eichhornia Crassipes
ORIGIN: South America

A perennial free-floating, aquatic plant with long dark roots and showy purple or blue flowers, it may appear attractive but will quickly take over lakes, rivers and marshlands and can completely block waterways, impeding flow.

• Leaves are formed in rosettes which can reach up to 30 cm in diameter.
• Leaves are spongy, bulbous near the base, roundish, glossy green and up to 15 cm wide
• Flowers are lavender-blue with yellow highlights, growing up to 5 cm wide.
• Plants can grow over 3ft tall.

HABITAT

Thrives well in any freshwater environment.

IMPACT: HIGH

Its dense, impenetrable mats will clog waterways, making boating, fishing and almost all other water activities, impossible. It also causes issues with flood control. It degrades water quality by blocking air from reaching the water, greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water, eliminating underwater animals and fish and depletes other submersed plants and aquatic invertebrates. Despite being a threat to biodiversity worldwide, its biomass has been found useful for the absorption of toxic waste from polluted water.

TOXICITY: ZERO

Water hyacinth presents no physical danger to either humans or animals.