Alien Invasion - I want my pond back !

[clemsonfor]

Sorry for the confusion, this is still in the past, but only just. That weed round by the oak tree is still there. The part that has been cleared so far is at the other end of the pond, where it was easier to wade - I'll find or take a picture to make it clearer.



There are no fish at all in any of the ponds. That wiki piece must have been written by a typical fisherman - exaggerating as usual. 18" Rudd ! More likely to be 6-8". A 2lb Roach or Rudd is a rare fish on most waters unless someone is feeding them every day.

He could be fed everyday...by your alien grass.

 

[clemsonfor]

June 2015

Our "Rural Land Register" map has just been updated. This now shows the pond to be just over half an acre, slightly larger than I first thought. Maybe that is why it is taking me so long to evict the alien. More likely it is that I've been spending too much time on TBN when I should have been sorting out the Crassula.

Today I have about two thirds clear. Doesn't look too bad when you look from the west side.

When you look from the other side, you can see there is still a fair bit to do with the remaining third.

If anything, the Crassula in this part has grown thicker than ever this year.

Getting this out may be fun as here the pond is at it's deepest - and I have no boat.
At least the wasps have moved out.

I still intend to try and drag it away. Could be time for some tractor action.



The End

Well, that's the end of the story, or at least the historical time warp. We are back into real time.

I can take pictures to show future progress if anyone is still interested.


.

Im telling you i would spray the crap outta that with some Aquatic Glyphosate!!! Aquaneat, Aquastar, Rodeo, ...whatever the trade name of one may be today!!! you could smoke that stuff!!!!

 

[Eric Salop]

And man what trouble to spray herbicide . Over here you can buy thechemicals on line and ship them to you an leagally apply as long as your floowing the label. That said i also hold official government training on the subject of herbicide

That is how it used to be here too and as far as I am aware has not caused problems. Spraying on water has been different for a while - even with paperwork qualifications, there are still other hoops to jump through from other agencies.

Up to this year everyone over 50 years of age could spray their own land (not someone else's) as long as we followed the label, with younger people being certificated through agricultural school. Come November this year I won't even be allowed to knapsack spray a few weeds without more new training and paperwork. Many have in the past undertaken voluntary training and some have paper to prove it - that is no longer good enough either. It is yet another piece of legislation that has it's origins within some European bureaucracy.

At least we are going to get a vote on staying in Europe, or quitting, in 2017.

 

[clemsonfor]

why over 50? who came up with that arbitrary number? I guess they wanted them old enough not to harm themselves in the working or reproductive world?

 

[Xfaxman]

Im telling you i would spray the crap outta that with some Aquatic Glyphosate!!! Aquaneat, Aquastar, Rodeo, ...ehatever the trade name of one may be today!!! you could smoke that stuff!!!!

Yep, easy to roll, but hard to light!

 

[dave1949]

why over 50? who came up with that arbitrary number? I guess they wanted them old enough not to harm themselves in the working or reproductive world?

Maybe a higher percentage of people over 50 take time to vote, just like here.

 

[clemsonfor]

Maybe a higher percentage of people over 50 take time to vote, just like here.

good point. But the legislature or parliment in thier case (he is in england right...not going back to look right now) would have come up with that number, not the voters. Of course they could reject a proposal with a vote maybe?

I am defiant i guess, been voteing since i was 18. Only 33 now.

 

[dave1949]

good point. But the legislature or parliment in thier case (he is in england right...not going back to look right now) would have come up with that number, not the voters. Of course they could reject a proposal with a vote maybe?

I am defiant i guess, been voteing since i was 18. Only 33 now.

Yes, Eric is in England.

I have no idea who came up with age 50 or why, but anyone elected who had anything to do with it could be avoiding angry constituents that they need votes from to stay in office.

I'm glad to hear you vote. I volunteer at our local voting polling place: poll warden, counting ballots, etc. and always thank people for voting.

 

[damartin]

why over 50? who came up with that arbitrary number? I guess they wanted them old enough not to harm themselves in the working or reproductive world?

It probably is just "Grandfathering" in the people who have already been using the stuff for awhile.

Dwight

 

[Eric Salop]

It probably is just "Grandfathering" in the people who have already been using the stuff for awhile.

Dwight

Yes you are right, it was anyone born after a certain year who had "Grandfather rights". They must now think that counts as age discrimination, so the rights are being taken away to save the country from old farts like me unless we go back to school.

 

[Eric Salop]

Alien meets 4-in-1 bucket

While I was passing by the pond with the 4-in-1 bucket on the loader, I had a few grabs to see what would happen.

The Iseki is built for wet Japanese rice fields, but if I went further down the bank I'm pretty sure I would be needing help to ever get out again.



With a bit of mist rolling in, it wouldn't take much for an alien like this to feature in a sci-fi movie.

I have now cut a strip all the way around the pond, ready to attempt the big tow later this week.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My idea is to find an old boat trailer or a long caddy and rig a set of tines/scarifers (hydraulically actuated like on an expensive box blade) on the rear of the trailer. Back trailer far into the water, lower scarifers, and pull out. You could fab the trailer to utilize 3 pt hitch geometry so you could mount a York rake or whatever you have. I'm sure it would take a bit of experimentation, but it could be made to work.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Eric, I have several pictures of my 4-in-1 grasping 8' high poison oak bushes, the local alien of choice. Not sure which would be worse, risking drowning on the tractor, or having to remember to wash it off after every session to prevent a wide spread and long lasting rash.:shocked:

 

[dave1949]

Hard to believe how thick that stuff is! If it were chemically killed, there would be a bunch of rotting vegetation in the water and that probably wouldn't be very good either.

 

[farmer2009]

Eric how much effect would oxygenated water have on the plant?

If it would work a couple of solar fountains. It's up by the road right. Place some reading benches and parking meters to pay for the fountains. Ok just kidding about the parking meters.

 

[txdon]

The second photo of the tractor lifting the alien really does looks like an alien attacking your tractor.

 

[the old grind]

Having apparently lost my recent mammalian invader (muskrat) there are dead/floating/decaying cattails to remove, now providing nitrogen to other weeds I hope to keep contained. I doubt that oxygen would benefit Eric's alien in any way (they produce it vs use it) and that leads me to a 'wondering'.

First pic shows roots that apparently just dangle in the water. Is it wind/wave action that inhibits what they can add to expansion/density in calmer waters?

So, the pond is mostly clear, but one or two areas just aren't getting much wind, or are a bit shallow and the alien tries to come back there ... (bits left or drifted there?) ...

The 'wonder' then is would/could a windmill bubbler(s) be applied experimentally, economically, strategically in what is sure to be a prolonged battle?

btw, that 'veggie' stuff looks horror movie-ugly/scary "alien monster ..."

(The tractor appears to be quite handsome but somewhat shy. )

 

[clemsonfor]

I didnt know Iseki still made tractors? maybe there just not sold here. we still get the old Grey models here though

 

[rd_macgregor]

You might want to contact the authors of this work to see if they have any suggestions....
http://www.invasive.org/proceedings/pdfs/Varia.pdf

It doesn't sound like physical removal will be a long-term fix for the problem (ie, you'll be doing it repeatedly).

Bob

 

[MossRoad]

I'd also recommend a visit to Pond Boss Magazine: Welcome and check out their forums. Lots of good info over there.