Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

Cheers
John

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

In article lalaw44-F3222F.11001923042010@surfnet-
nl.ipv4.ptr.145.109.196.x.invalid, says...
Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

Cheers
John

Something is making the water very fertile, unless you figure out what
the same thing will happen to your new pond.

You can buy gizmos to rake out blanket weed which if you do it often
enough will eventually curb it as each time its removed some fertility
goes with it, check there is no run off from surrounding land, remove and
replant all the plants in clean gravel not soil and top up only with rain
water, all will help
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

"John L" wrote ...
Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

Yes, it happens to almost every pond to some extent. Made worse by topping
up with tap water (that contains nitrates), fertiliser washing into the pond
and planting up pond plants in normal fertile garden soil.
I usually find it bad at this time of year but it goes away as the normal
pond plants start to grow well.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. ....

No fish. It's a small pond (12' by 4', 2' deep max).

Maybe it's the considerable sludge in the I installed it perhaps 10
years ago,and I've never cleared it out (because I don't like the look
of the liner, and anyway I thought pond sludge was "good"). And also
you need to sort sludge from creatures, if you do clean it out.

useful advice so far though: thanks.

John

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

"John L" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. ....

No fish. It's a small pond (12' by 4', 2' deep max).

Maybe it's the considerable sludge in the I installed it perhaps 10
years ago,and I've never cleared it out (because I don't like the look
of the liner, and anyway I thought pond sludge was "good"). And also
you need to sort sludge from creatures, if you do clean it out.

useful advice so far though: thanks.

John

Some blanket weed can be good for a pond, provides habitat for many
creatures, if excessive, scoop out with a stick, maybe with a nail stuck in
the stick and leave on the edge of the pond for a day or so to allow aquatic
insects to crawl back in.
Then put into compost heap or bin.

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

"John L" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. ....

No fish. It's a small pond (12' by 4', 2' deep max).

Maybe it's the considerable sludge in the I installed it perhaps 10
years ago,and I've never cleared it out (because I don't like the look
of the liner, and anyway I thought pond sludge was "good"). And also
you need to sort sludge from creatures, if you do clean it out.

useful advice so far though: thanks.


Our pond is quite small, about 6' x 4', but it's under a loquat tree so
quite shaded, and we have never had blanket weed. We have quite a few
Belfast sinks around the garden, some have blanket weed, some don't. Every
Belfast sink has its own ecology, I suppose. We have another small pond (4'
x 3') which was rehomed with us and is full of a water lily, and it has no
blanket weed. We also have a Chinese urn which was used for shipping aged
eggs, and this one, right next to the big pond, has blanket weed.

The 'big' (4' x 6') pond has about 14 fish and of course we do feed them
through the summer when the temp gets over 50F. It would seem that your
water is too full of nutrients which appeal to blanket weed. Or else it's
so light that it encourages blanket weed. This weed doesn't seem to like
shade. I found some celery-like plant in the stream on our local golf
course and brought a bit back, and it has cleared all the water, this plant
eats everything and keeps the water clear. If you want some, post here with
your munged email and I will send you some. It becomes a bit rampant but
does no harm, you can just yank it out.

someone

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

"someone" wrote in message
...

"John L" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. ....

No fish. It's a small pond (12' by 4', 2' deep max).

Maybe it's the considerable sludge in the I installed it perhaps 10
years ago,and I've never cleared it out (because I don't like the look
of the liner, and anyway I thought pond sludge was "good"). And also
you need to sort sludge from creatures, if you do clean it out.

useful advice so far though: thanks.


P.S You're right, picking the animals and insects out of the weed is a very
dfficult job, takes at least an afternoon. We have lots of Asellus, and
freshwater shrimp (about 8 mm long) as well as some very small leeches.
Ponds are hard work.

Your pond is not doomed!

someone

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:19 +0200, John L wrote:

Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

The simplest way to control blanket weed is to stick a length of batten (I
use a piece of 2"x1") into the weed and twirl it round. When you have a
good load on the batten just remove it and scrape it off onto the edge of
the pond and leave it for 24 hours to let the invertebrates return to
their habitat.

If you do want to remove the liner the best time is in the autumn when
there should be the least impact on any amphibians. Whilst you will be
able to get rid of the blanket weed completely for a (probably short)
while it will return!

--
rbel

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

"someone" wrote ((big snip))

I found some celery-like plant in the stream on our local golf
course and brought a bit back, and it has cleared all the water, this
plant eats everything and keeps the water clear. If you want some, post
here with your munged email and I will send you some. It becomes a bit
rampant but does no harm, you can just yank it out.

Water Cress does the same thing and is excellent on the compost heap if it
becomes too rampant. Just buy some at the supermarket and throw it in, it
will soon grow roots and can be planted as a marginal. Just one thing, don't
use it from your pond for eating as you may end up with liver flukes.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:19 +0200, John L wrote:

Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

The simplest way to control blanket weed is to stick a length of batten (I
use a piece of 2"x1") into the weed and twirl it round. When you have a
good load on the batten just remove it and scrape it off onto the edge of
the pond and leave it for 24 hours to let the invertebrates return to
their habitat.

If you do want to remove the liner the best time is in the autumn when
there should be the least impact on any amphibians. Whilst you will be
able to get rid of the blanket weed completely for a (probably short)
while it will return!

I was recommended Eco Gold after trying several others with no success,
and this actually works,

http://www.koi-
fish.co.uk/acatalog/Eco_Gold_Blanket_Weed_Eradicator_from_Kusuri.html

I eventally bought it from Ebay, and use it every month in the height of
summer.

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

In article , j.isleofwight87
@omitgmail.com says...

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:19 +0200, John L wrote:

Our pond contracted blanket weed a few years ago and we've been fighting
it ever since.

This Spring it looks more aggressive than ever, thickly coating every
surface. Is it time to consider throwing the whole lot - liner and all -
away?

If so: when's the best time? Obviously after the tadpoles have
disappeared, but then wait until the "Back End"? And save _nothing_?

The simplest way to control blanket weed is to stick a length of batten (I
use a piece of 2"x1") into the weed and twirl it round. When you have a
good load on the batten just remove it and scrape it off onto the edge of
the pond and leave it for 24 hours to let the invertebrates return to
their habitat.

If you do want to remove the liner the best time is in the autumn when
there should be the least impact on any amphibians. Whilst you will be
able to get rid of the blanket weed completely for a (probably short)
while it will return!

I was recommended Eco Gold after trying several others with no success,
and this actually works,

http://www.koi-
fish.co.uk/acatalog/Eco_Gold_Blanket_Weed_Eradicator_from_Kusuri.html

I eventally bought it from Ebay, and use it every month in the height of
summer.

Sorry mucked up the link, just copy and paste it all into browser.

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:45:08 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

someone" wrote ((big snip))

I found some celery-like plant in the stream on our local golf
course and brought a bit back, and it has cleared all the water, this
plant eats everything and keeps the water clear. If you want some, post
here with your munged email and I will send you some. It becomes a bit
rampant but does no harm, you can just yank it out.

Water Cress does the same thing and is excellent on the compost heap if it
becomes too rampant. Just buy some at the supermarket and throw it in, it
will soon grow roots and can be planted as a marginal. Just one thing, don't
use it from your pond for eating as you may end up with liver flukes.

I think that very unlikely unless you allow sheep to crap in your pond
(or unless you fill your pond with water from a rivulet downstream
from crapping sheep)

--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

On Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:32:01 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

The message
from ®óñ© © ²°¹° contains these words:

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:45:08 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

someone" wrote ((big snip))

I found some celery-like plant in the stream on our local golf
course and brought a bit back, and it has cleared all the water, this
plant eats everything and keeps the water clear. If you want some, post
here with your munged email and I will send you some. It becomes a bit
rampant but does no harm, you can just yank it out.

Water Cress does the same thing and is excellent on the compost heap if it
becomes too rampant. Just buy some at the supermarket and throw it in, it
will soon grow roots and can be planted as a marginal. Just one
thing, don't
use it from your pond for eating as you may end up with liver flukes.

I think that very unlikely unless you allow sheep to crap in your pond
(or unless you fill your pond with water from a rivulet downstream
from crapping sheep)

IIRC water snails are an intermediary host of one stage of liver
fluke's lifecycle . Snails are easily introduced on aquatic plants.

Neverthless, water cress shouldn't be eaten from garden ponds.
Still water may be contaminated with rats urine, the source of
Weils disease in people.

This seems to suggest that you should also not eat any thing grown
outdoors in your garden or allotment. Rats are everywhere and urinate
everywhere. And so do dogs.


--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. Goldfish crap contains
ammonia, which is converted to nitrate by bacteria in the pond. Excess
food is also ends up as nitrate. It is quite possible to manage a pond
without getting masses of blanket weed, so long as you are aware of,
and minimise, sources of nitrate. Avoid feeding goldfish, and don't
use ordinary garden soil for planting marginal plants in.

And if you haven't got any already, introduce some water snails.

--
Rusty

Pond: doomed? (blanket weed)
 

John L wrote:
In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

The blanket weed (and any other algae in the pond) is being fed by
nitrate in the water, just as any other green plant needs nitrate
fertiliser. As others have said, this can come from several sources.
One not mentioned is food given to goldfish. ....

No fish. It's a small pond (12' by 4', 2' deep max).

Maybe it's the considerable sludge in the I installed it perhaps 10
years ago,and I've never cleared it out (because I don't like the look
of the liner, and anyway I thought pond sludge was "good"). And also
you need to sort sludge from creatures, if you do clean it out.

Clear everything out in the evening and leave it on the margin. Any
creatures will find their way back in before they have a chance to dry-up.

--
Rusty