Water Lilly......anyone ever got rid of one?

[Dave7]

Not after advice ut I have my work cut out with this one .
The water lilly we had (still bl**dy have) was tbf beautiful but........
Managed to empty the pond but.......at one end I dug a deep trench 3' x approx 2' deeper than the rest of the pond. The lilly have formed solid roots that totally fill this trench. Problem is its also full of water. I am choppin it up bit by bit. Been 3 hours and I am 1/4 way through.
A nightmare.

 

[classic33]

You are using a sharp hatchet?

 

[Zeffer]

Used to work on a Water Lily farm (Bennett's in Weymouth) and I feel for you! I used to frequently clear ponds for new lilies and it is seriously tough and time consuming work. Some of the rarer lilies just need looking at and they die, the deeper water, larger ones can take over a pond in no time.

 

[Dave7]

You are using a sharp hatchet?

Using a spade as the water is level with the top of the roots (imagine a root ball 5' x 3 'x 2' deep but under water ).
I am trying to bucket the water out and puncture the membrane with a fork.

 

[classic33]

Using a spade as the water is level with the top of the roots (imagine a root ball 5' x 3 'x 2' deep but under water ).
I am trying to bucket the water out and puncture the membrane with a fork.

Would you have use for a slasher afterwards?

If yes, may be worth getting one.

 

[Levo-Lon]

If it were me id put old boots on and dig it from in the water.
That said im a very aggressive digger, so I'd so have it.

Your probaly going to need a post hole tool for chopping if your struggling.

Hth

 

[Dave7]

Would you have use for a slasher afterwards?

If yes, may be worth getting one.

We have 3 slashers. One upstairs and 2 downstairs. Some people call them WCs though. I mainly use downstairs if its just for a slash.

So really, what is a slasher ?

 

[Dave7]

If it were me id put old boots on and dig it from in the water.
That said im a very aggressive digger, so I'd so have it.

Your probaly going to need a post hole tool for chopping if your struggling.

Hth

Thats pretty much what I am doing but with wellies. Slow going but the spade is gradually, slowly, winning.
Just had a break and am going back to the fight now

 

[Cycleops]

Puts me in mind of the old Lonnie Donegan song;
"I say, I say, I say (huh?)
My dustbin's full of lillies
(Well, throw them away then!)
I can't, Lilly's wearing them".

 

[fossyant]

Nuke it.

 

[Dave7]

Puts me in mind of the old Lonnie Donegan song;
"I say, I say, I say (huh?)
My dustbin's full of lillies
(Well, throw them away then!)
I can't, Lilly's wearing them".

If my mind serves me right the 3rd line was "how do you know they're Lillies"
Just being a pedantic old fart

 

[Cycleops]

If my mind serves me right the 3rd line was "how do you know they're Lillies"
Just being a pedantic old fart

That's quite right. I got the quote from the net which just shows it is often wrong!

 

[Salty seadog]

Nuke it.

 

[classic33]

We have 3 slashers. One upstairs and 2 downstairs. Some people call them WCs though. I mainly use downstairs if its just for a slash.

So really, what is a slasher ?

This be one slasher,

Almost anything you use would be better than wellies for getting rid of it.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I hack my lily up occasionally. It's in a membrane lined pond with the lily in a basket type thing. If I don't leave it too long between slashing I can hoik it up onto the bank and deal with it - usually with an axe. Always amazes me how big and robust water plants can get given they don't get any feed or owt. Ever had to deal with Yellow Flag Iris? Equally horrendous.