Topic: Blanket weed

[Kazwookie]

Hi folks

A newbie here!!  :)

My pond has blanket weed, it has approx. 7500 ltr water in it, a UV filter box and pump with a fountain on it.

At the last count there were 37 fish in there, but they have been breeding!

There are lillies and other pond plants.

Any ideas how to get rid of the blanket weed, last year was bad, the year before I had none, basically help!

Thanks in advance.

[Ishard]

HI Caz  :) Welcome to a very friendly chat board.

BW is caused by 2 things, food and sunlight.
 Cut back on feeding your fish as feeding creates nitrogen and cover 1/2 of your pond with either plants or material.

If the fish have been mating there is way too much protein in the water so do a 10% water change using dechlorinator and keep doing it for ever.

Every pond with fish in needs a 10% water change weekly, even in winter.

Hoick the bw out and compost it :)

Hope this helps

Jackie

[manicscousers]

 hiya, kazwookie, welcome to the site,
we have a small pond, I hook the blanket weed out and put it to one side so's the water dwellers can get back, then it goes on the compost heap or as a green mulch around my plants  ;D

[Kazwookie]

Thanks folks.

I guess a water change is coming up!

I have been hoicking out the weed that I can reach, after draining it ends up in the recycling wheelie bin!

[tricia]

Welcome Kaz - but don't waste the blanket weed. Compost it!

ricia

[GrannieAnnie]

Good thing you're not hosting the Olympic water sports. I see China is having your problem big time.

[hopalong]

Thanks folks.

I guess a water change is coming up!

I have been hoicking out the weed that I can reach, after draining it ends up in the recycling wheelie bin!

I find it's easiest  to get it out by winding it round a stick.  As others have said, I leave it on the side of the pond to let the creatures back in and then put it on the compost heap after a day or so.

[Ishard]

Shove a small bamboo cane in a drill and wind it out that way.  ;)

[Andy H]

Ha yeah, a few years ago when we had bad blanket weed I used a 3ft bolt in the drill nd you could see it coming towards me from the other side of the pond! That was before we composted anything though...

[Ishard]

Green candfloss lol

[hopalong]

I recently discovered a box of sachets labelled "Blanket Weed Buster", by Interpret of Dorking, Surrey, which is promoted as the most natural and effective way of getting rid of blanket weed. Must have bought it in a moment of extravagant madness at some flower show. It is said to consist of "a probiotic blend of bacteria that will keep your pond healthy and free of algae and pond sludge.  The initial dose will start your population of good bacteria and the repeat doses will top up the population to deal with the continued production of excess nutrients in the pond environment".  Anyway,  I've given the pond an initial dose and it seems to be working.  The fish, frogs and newts seem happy.  I wonder whether any other Allotments 4 All people have tried it?

[Andy H]

Yes I think we did try it years ago. sprinkle powder  on or use watering can I think.

None in pond now just the fir round the liner which isn`t a problem at all, wonder if it is healthy?

[hopalong]

Yes I think we did try it years ago. sprinkle powder  on or use watering can I think.

None in pond now just the fir round the liner which isn`t a problem at all, wonder if it is healthy?

Blanket weed now much reduced but water still very green. Too much sludge and nutrients I suspect.  I think I dug the pond too deep.

[Andy H]

When was the UV bulb last changed? They do need changing each year as they only last 6 months.

[Kazwookie]

I've still got it, blanket weed that is!!

Cane and twiddling sounds sort of fun, I'll give that a go.

Did try blanket weed buster last year, well I think that was it is name, IMO no use what so ever!

[labrat]

Try Kusuri Eco Gold.

http://www.kusuri.co.uk/shopping.php?class_id=124

[Andy H]

You will have to twiddle though! to get as much out manually before using a treatment.

As mentioned earlier I used a 3ft threaded steel rod in a drill chuck then cut it off with stanley blade, collected bucket fulls!!!

If masses in there then mind you dont catch anything living in it as using drill packs it onto the rod real tight....

[froglets]

Have been told by a water landscaping specialist to be wary of fungicides if you have water lillies.  Even though they say they are ok & ok for wildlife, they will not harm your waterlillies but will stop them thriving & will check growth & leave them suceptable to disease.

Cheers

[Carol]

Barley straw works for us.  We don't seem to get much blanket weed but then there is not much sunshine around here and we have loads of oxygenators covering the pond.  You can buy barley straw at garden centres selling pond plants with all the associated stuff that goes with garden ponds.  Do try it.

Good luck.

[hopalong]

I read in one of the weekend supplements that keeping leaves out of your pond is essential for keeping blanket weed at bay.  Blanket weed builds up if you have a lot of sludge in the pond.

Since my last post on this subject, I have used Blanket Weed Buster, which worked OK, but the thing that has really transformed the pond from a murky mess to a limpid, crystal clear delight is installing a small waterfall at one end - away from the water lilies, which don't like to be disturbed - to keep the water circulating. There is still an occasional bit of blanket weed at the edges, but there is much less of it and it's easy to remove by the stick twirling method.