Do I need a permit to treat my golf course pond with an aquatic herbicide?

It depends on your state. Many states require a permit or licensed applicator for aquatic herbicide use, particularly on water bodies used for irrigation withdrawal. Check with your state's environmental or agriculture agency before treating.

Can Diquat and Aquasel 53.8% be used in the same pond?

Yes. They target different growth types, submerged and floating weeds with Diquat, emerged shoreline vegetation with Aquasel 53.8%, so a single pond with both problems often needs both products as part of one program.

For golf course superintendents

Aquatic weed management for golf course ponds

Managing submerged and shoreline weeds without disrupting your irrigation source.

Water features do double duty on most golf courses: they’re playing hazards and, very often, the irrigation source for the rest of the property. That combination makes pond and shoreline weed management higher stakes than it looks. Left unchecked, submerged weeds clog intake screens and pumps, while shoreline vegetation creeps into sightlines and playing areas. The right approach depends on where the weed is actually growing, since golf course ponds typically deal with two distinct problems that call for two different products.

Two water problems, two products

Submerged and floating weeds

Diquat

Duckweed, watermeal, hydrilla, coontail, and pondweed grow in or just under the surface. Diquat (37.3% Diquat Dibromide) is a fast-acting contact herbicide that disrupts photosynthesis, causing rapid browning and dieback, often visible within one to two days, useful for knocking back dense mats before they interfere with pumps, aeration, or play.

Shoreline and emerged vegetation

Aquasel 53.8%

Cattails, common reed, phragmites, and woody shoreline growth are rooted at or above the waterline. Aquasel 53.8% is an aquatic-approved glyphosate formulation (53.8% Glyphosate) built for this use, applied to plant tissue rather than open water, and works systemically into the root system for longer-term control.

Before you spray

Regulatory compliance

This is the step most likely to get skipped, and the one most likely to cause a problem. Aquatic herbicide use is regulated at the state and often local level, and many states require a permit before treating a water body, particularly one used for irrigation withdrawal.

Confirm whether your state requires an aquatic herbicide permit or licensed applicator
Check the product label for water use restrictions after treatment, both products carry them, and the interval varies by intended use
If the pond feeds your irrigation system, plan around your watering schedule so you’re not caught needing to irrigate greens during a restricted period
Keep treatment records; many state programs require documentation of aquatic applications

Seasonal management calendar

Early season

Inspect ponds and shoreline as growth resumes; identify whether the problem is submerged, emergent, or both, since that determines which product applies.

Active growing season

Treat submerged mats with Diquat while they’re still manageable in size, before they interfere with irrigation intakes.

Mid to late season

Address shoreline regrowth with Aquasel 53.8% while vegetation is actively growing, for the best systemic uptake.

Off-season

Review the year’s treatment records and permit status ahead of the next season.

A note on timing

Both products work best on actively growing vegetation. Treating stressed, dormant, or already-declining weeds gives weaker results with either product, so timing an application to the plant’s growth stage matters as much as the product choice itself.

Building an aquatic management program for your course?

Contact Agrisel for pricing on Diquat and Aquasel 53.8% for ponds, shorelines, and irrigation sources.

Contact Agrisel