About Other Options

Aquatic Herbicides — Herbicides can be effective for some homeowners; however, this treatment method does not physically remove the plants from the water. Instead, it simply kills them. Chemical use often comes with restrictions, like limited or no contact with the treated area for a period of time. Herbicide use is not immediate; it may take several weeks to notice a difference. As the chemical begin to work on the plants, it leaves them to sink and decay on the lake bed, which, in turn, creates more sediment for next year’s growth. Our hand-pulled, by-the-root method is a stark contrast to chemical use and ensures less regrowth from year to year. Our methods also provide the opportunity for sediment erosion to exist. An added benefit to choosing our method over chemical use is there’s no chance of affecting your neighbors beach, too!

Weed harvesters — Weed harvesters leave immediate results, as they are, essentially, a large lawn-mower for aquatic plants. They are not designed to remove plants by the root, though, which enables regrowth. These harvesters often leave small portion of the cut plants in the water, which poses a danger for replant in different locations throughout the lake.

Rakes — Rakes can be effective in removing plants from reachable areas; however, rakes will typically only get the top portion of the plant and leave the roots, enabling regrowth on a regular basis.

Rollers and Fans — The use of mechanical rollers and underwater fans can be expensive and are not designed to remove plants. They maintain areas and prevent regrowth well, but these methods require a Minnesota DNR-issued permit.

What the DNR says