Control Water Hawthorn

Some people ask how to get rid of water hawthorn. The following options can be considered for how to control water hawthorn.

Click here to read more about identifying this plant.

Manual/Mechanical Control:

If you are considering how to remove water hawthorn, physically pulling this plant and digging up the rhizomes can be a somewhat effective method of control. However, physical control can be difficult. Water hawthorn can re-grow from any seeds or rhizomes remaining in the water.

Herbicide Control:

There is an option for how to kill water hawthorn that may offer control. While water hawthorn is not listed on the label, Imox is an excellent broad spectrum herbicide that kills a wide variety of plants that emerge from the water’s surface.

1. Cattail and Water Lily Control (Imox + surfactant) (for ponds or lakes) – liquids that are mixed and diluted with water and sprayed over the plants.

Treatment Tips:

When treating water hawthorn,

• With Imox or other systemic herbicides, treatment is most effective when the plants are mature or close to full grown. This allows for more plant surface to spray enough mixture on.
  • Treat in late spring to early summer to get better kill of the root systems. At this time, plants are pulling energy into their roots to store for the summer.
  • Imox will generally only be absorbed through the parts of the plant it is sprayed on that are above the water’s surface.
• Treat when the plants are established and actively growing.