Duckweed

[Bouncytigger]

Well with my two ponds now two years old i have succesfully avoided an infestation up until now

But yes its arrived!!!!!!

Must have been carried on some pond plants i bought online and at the moment it looks quite pretty and i spose it will stop my blanketweed problems next spring?

I read somewhere that it takes unwanted nutrients from your pond water?

Does it do anything possitive for wildlife or is it just a ORRIBLE GREEN MENACE to be removed ASAP?

Do FROGS like it? lol

[Kayleigh]

I haven't a clue if its beneficial in any way but its a pain in the ass to remove..
The frogs don't seem to mind it.

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I haven't a clue if its beneficial in any way but its a pain in the ass to remove..
The frogs don't seem to mind it.

Well i'm sure i have an old colander somewhere

[galanthus]

Almost impossible to eradicate I'd say. I had some carried in on a shop bought plant when I made the pond, despite determined effort to remove it yearly it's still there, as is the blanketweed I'm afraid

Tho I will agree with kayleigh that the frogs don't mind it at all, it quite often festoons their heads as they peek out of the water lol. I think as long as you fish a fair bit out quite often and your pond isn't too big it'll be fine.

[Darley]

I think duckweed in small ponds is benficial because it limits the growth of algae. Fish, newts and tadpoles love it because it provides shelter. Keep it in check but don't worry too much about it.

[Jim Ford]

Green hydra like it as well.

Fish some duckweed and water out into a jam jar and put it onto a windowsill. After a while you'll see the hydra stuck to the window side of the jam jar. Fascinating creatures!

Jim

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Green hydra like it as well.

Fish some duckweed and water out into a jam jar and put it onto a windowsill. After a while you'll see the hydra stuck to the window side of the jam jar. Fascinating creatures!

Jim

Might try this, Jim, sounds fun

There are several duckweed threads on WAB, including one with this warning:

The plant multiplies by division and rapidly expands untill it reaches some sort of balance in the water body. It will become very dense and whilst it will help somewhat to combat evaporation, it can reduce the oxygen levels to serious levels in hot weather. So far the only way to remove it is to hope for a really hard winter and a prolonged cold snap that freezes the water to several inches in depth, that will kill it.

I never realised having duckweed was such a serious business!

[Kayleigh]

If you have a fountain duckweed doesn't like moving water that gets rid of it..

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Might try this, Jim, sounds fun

There are several duckweed threads on WAB, including one with this warning:


I never realised having duckweed was such a serious business!

More of a problem in big pond where you can't reach to fish it out I think hedgewitch.

[Darley]

Is Duckweed made from baby ducks?