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Old 21-01-2004, 12:02 AM
Stephen M. Henning
 
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Default Bog gardens & String Algae

We had a bog garden that was triangular and about 60' on a side. It had
two natural springs at the top which flowed down through the garden and
then into an old stone walled swimming pool full of water lillies.

We planted blue berries, deciduous azaleas (Gibraltar and Klondike),
red-twig dogwood, green-twig dogwood, primroses, swamp iris, and ferns.
They all flourished. In addition birds planted elder berry and
bittersweet which did well also.

The swamp was getting too wet and running across the lawn onto the
neighbors property. We put in a new drainage system that diverts all the
water underground into the lilly pond. We filled in the deep end of the
pool so that it varies from 3' to 4' deep and will put the water lillies
back in when we refill it.

I am looking for ideas on how to manage the string algae in the lilly
pond. The lilly pond is 15' x 45' by 3.5' or about 19,000 gallons. I
know that shade and reducing nutrients reduces the green water algae but
that this won't eliminate the string algae. Now, with just the spring
water running out of the plastic drain pipes we are getting string algae
growing in the end of the pipe where the water is running out. The
nutrient level in this water must be rather high. It is acidic also.

Any suggestions are welcome

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