Parrot's feather in garden ponds: removal and disposal
Myriophyllum aquaticum was a popular pond oxygenator before its 2014 sale ban — here's how to remove it from a domestic pond without spreading it further.
Parrot's feather looks exactly like its name — fine bright-green whorled foliage sticking out of the water by 10–15 cm. It was sold across every garden centre in Britain until the 2014 ban, and most of our removal jobs are still on ponds planted in that window.
Why it's a problem
Forms dense mats that shade out submerged natives, drop oxygen levels in the water, and break down to release nutrients that drive algal blooms. Escaped colonies in slow-moving watercourses are extremely hard to eradicate.
Removal
Drain the pond, hand-remove all plant material to a sealed bag, and excavate the top 200 mm of substrate. All waste goes for incineration as controlled waste — composting and green-bin disposal are illegal and re-establish the plant within months.
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The survey team
PCA-certificated surveyors, Japanese Knotweed Elimination
PA1 / PA6A certificated surveyors who carry out the site visits, write the management plans and sign off the reports issued to lenders and solicitors.
Reviews the technical, legal and lender statements in this article.
What this page can't tell you
- Guidance is general. Identification, treatment choice and timescales can only be confirmed by a site visit — photographs alone are indicative.
- Lender and insurer requirements vary by institution and change over time. We state what is typically accepted, not what any named lender will accept on your case.
- Guarantee (IBG) eligibility depends on the plan chosen, the survey findings and the underwriter's acceptance. It is not automatic.
- Legal points summarise published law and guidance current at the review date. They are not legal advice.
Last reviewed · Questions on anything stated here: 07582 869979
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