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You can get rid of pond lily pads using a combination of physical removal, natural methods, and targeted herbicides.
That’s the straightforward answer, but how to get rid of pond lily pads depends entirely on how big your pond is, how many lily pads you’re dealing with, and whether you have fish or other wildlife to protect.
Some methods are as simple as pulling them out by hand, while others involve cutting, dragging, or applying specific pond-safe chemicals.
In this post, we’ll walk through the most effective ways to get rid of pond lily pads, from the least invasive to the most aggressive.
We’ll also cover why lily pads seem to come back so fast and how to prevent them from taking over your pond again.
Let’s dive in and take back your pond’s surface.
Why You Need to Get Rid of Pond Lily Pads
Lily pads might look pretty, but they can choke out your pond if left unchecked.
When you get rid of pond lily pads, you’re not just cleaning up the view, you’re restoring the health of your entire water ecosystem.
Lily pads block sunlight from reaching underwater plants, which lowers oxygen levels and can lead to fish kills.
They also create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests.
So learning how to get rid of pond lily pads is about more than aesthetics, it’s about keeping your pond alive and balanced.
1. Physical Removal by Hand
For small ponds, the simplest way to get rid of pond lily pads is to just pull them out by the roots.
You’ll need to get down to the mud at the bottom and grab the rhizome, which is the thick root structure that anchors the plant.
If you only pull the leaves and stems, the plant will regrow in a matter of days.
Wearing waders or using a long-handled rake can help you reach deeper lily pads without falling in.
This method is best when you have a manageable number of lily pads and you’re willing to put in some elbow grease on a regular basis.
2. Cutting and Raking Lily Pads
If pulling roots isn’t realistic because the lily pads are too deep or the pond is too large, you can cut them repeatedly to weaken the plant.
Using a pond rake or a weed cutter, you can slice through the stems just below the surface.
When you get rid of pond lily pads this way, you’re forcing the plant to use its stored energy to regrow over and over again.
After enough cutting, the rhizome will eventually starve and die off.
This takes patience, but it’s a chemical-free way to get rid of pond lily pads without harming fish.
3. Dredging the Pond Bottom
For severe infestations, the most permanent way to get rid of pond lily pads is to dredge the pond.
Dredging removes the muck and sediment at the bottom, which is exactly where the lily pad rhizomes live and feed.
This is a major project, often requiring heavy equipment or professional help, but it completely resets the pond floor.
Once you get rid of the nutrient-rich mud, lily pads won’t have anything to anchor into or feed from.
This is the most thorough method, but it’s also the most disruptive to your pond’s ecosystem, so it’s really a last resort.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pond Lily Pads
If you don’t want to use chemicals, there are a few natural strategies that can help you get rid of pond lily pads over time.
These methods work by changing the pond’s environment so lily pads struggle to survive on their own.
1. Shade the Water Surface
Lily pads are sun lovers, so reducing sunlight can slow their growth significantly.
You can plant tall grasses or shrubs along the pond’s edge to cast shadows over the water during the hottest parts of the day.
You can also use floating shade structures, though these can be unsightly.
While shading alone won’t completely get rid of pond lily pads, it will make the conditions tougher for them to thrive.
2. Introduce Grass Carp
Grass carp are a type of fish that love to eat aquatic vegetation, including lily pads.
Adding these fish to your pond can help you get rid of pond lily pads naturally and continuously.
However, you’ll need to check local regulations because grass carp are considered invasive in many areas and may require a permit.
Also, grass carp can be selective eaters, so they might eat your other desirable plants before they fully target the lily pads.
3. Reduce Nutrient Runoff
Lily pads thrive in ponds full of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen.
If you can cut off that food supply, you can get rid of pond lily pads more easily.
Avoid fertilizing your lawn near the pond, and make sure that runoff from septic systems or livestock doesn’t flow into the water.
Installing a buffer strip of native grasses or a sedimentation basin can filter out nutrients before they ever reach the pond.
Using Herbicides to Get Rid of Pond Lily Pads
When physical and natural methods aren’t enough, the most effective and reliable way to get rid of pond lily pads is with herbicides.
There are several aquatic-safe products specifically designed to target lily pads without harming your fish or beneficial insects.
1. Systemic Herbicides for Root Kill
Systemic herbicides, such as those containing glyphosate or imazapyr, are absorbed by the lily pad leaves and travel down to the rhizomes.
This kills the entire plant, roots included, which means you won’t have to worry about regrowth as quickly.
These are the best options if you want to get rid of pond lily pads permanently.
Apply them directly to the leaves on a calm, wind-free day to prevent drift.
2. Contact Herbicides for Quick Knockdown
Contact herbicides, like those containing diquat, kill the lily pad foliage on contact.
They work fast, usually within a few days, but they don’t kill the roots.
This means you’ll need to reapply every few weeks to keep the lily pads from bouncing back.
Contact herbicides are a good choice if you just need to clear a swimming area quickly and aren’t worried about long-term control.
3. Safe Application Tips
Always read the label and follow the exact dosage recommended by the manufacturer.
It’s best to treat lily pads in sections rather than all at once because dead plant matter decomposes and can suck oxygen out of the water.
Treating about a third of the lily pad coverage at a time is a safe approach.
Also, wait for warm weather because lily pads need to be actively growing for the herbicide to be absorbed properly.
How to Prevent Lily Pads From Coming Back
Once you get rid of pond lily pads, you don’t want them returning next season.
Prevention is all about maintaining the conditions that keep them from regrowing.
First, keep up with regular raking to remove any new shoots before they establish roots.
Second, maintain proper water circulation with a fountain or aerator, which disrupts the calm surface that lily pads prefer.
Third, check the pond regularly, especially in early spring when lily pads are just starting to emerge.
Catching them early makes it much easier to get rid of pond lily pads before they become a full-blown problem.
So, How to Get Rid of Pond Lily Pads?
How to get rid of pond lily pads comes down to choosing the right method for your specific pond size and infestation level.
You can get rid of pond lily pads by hand-pulling, cutting, raking, dredging, or using natural strategies like grass carp and nutrient reduction.
For the most complete and effective control, systemic herbicides are the go-to solution for many pond owners.
And once you’ve cleared your pond, staying on top of maintenance is the only way to keep lily pads from taking over again.
So pick the approach that fits your situation, and start reclaiming your pond today.
Your water will be clearer, your fish will be healthier, and your pond will finally look the way you always wanted it to.