Quick blanketweed question

[agrumpycow]

I know it has been discussed many times but, to be honest, it's making my brain hurt reading through all the posts about it so for my own sake I thought I'd as a quick question

We've just discovered some blanketweed-type stuff in our pond which is just over 3 months old now.
We only bought some floating plants to cover the surface (frog-bit & water soldier) about a week ago so, naturally, it barely covers the surface at the moment although the frog-bit does have new leaves on it.
I suspect this lack of shade is encouraging the blanketweed to grow nice & strong at the moment so we're planning just to hoik it out with a stick as and when and hope that when the floating plants grow the blanketweed will slow down.
Would you agree with this action for the time being?

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Clare,

I've had horrendous blanketweed. I tried various remedies, the barley straw did nothing, raking it out only caused it to grow back more strongly, and it just filled the gaps missed by the floating plants.

I have two ponds for comparison, and in my case there seems to be a direct correlation between topping the pond up with tap water (even only 10 % or less) and the ability of this stuff to grow.

I have a water butt now and only ever use this water for the pond. This has been the key to getting rid of the stuff in my garden at least.

So I would suggest that you do not top up with tap water.

[metalfish]

chuck in a bundle of barley straw too, and maybe some oxygenating pondweeds.

Always wash off (with plain rain water or tap water) any pond plants you buy before putting them in the pond, there are often little bits of duckweed/ blanket weed or other undesirables hiding there- it's easier than clearing a pond when the stuff has started to multiply.

I agree with the no tap water thing- it's full of nutrients that blanket weeds and algaes love & thrive on.

[The Woodman]

Yes, a good way to do it is use a stick or thin branch (plum sucker or straight hawthorn shoot with small lateral growths and wind it on like candyfloss.

It's amazing how much can got out this way because any broken bits left in the water will start new filaments.

Frog bit and Water Soldier are very easy to manage.

[agrumpycow]

Cheers for the replies so far.
Just to clarify, we have the recommended amount of oxygenating plants at the bottom of the pond for the size of pond and have never put tap water in it - we have water-buts that collect rain water and have used this.
It is because of this I suspect the sunlight has a lot to do with it so I'm waiting for the floating plants to grow some more

[Hedge Witch]

Then I suspect it will be OK in a year or so as long as you have no concrete (or certain rocks, as these exacerbated the problem in my pond). pH certainly plays a role too; if I remember, an acidic pond is better. The strands tend to break up at lower pH.

Can you post a picture of the problem just in case it's not blanketweed (you call it "blanketweed-type stuff") or anything else can be deduced?

[metalfish]

I've just been watching Countryfile and one lass suggested that Water Fleas keep the water free from algaes by eating it
She was on about the Norfolk Broads and how the water has been turned from a terrible condition in the 70's/ 80's to it's very fine condition now, but hey! Do you know any one with a more mature pond as theirs'll likely have water fleas in it & might let you have a jar or two of their pondwater & fleas.

What ever you do next with your pond would you report how it goes & what you think works or doesn't work as it would be really interesting. You're obviously doing so many things right so far, and yes I'd try the stick hoiking method too!

Sorry if I've stated the obvious, just trying to remember what advice my old workmate used to give people for their ponds- he's abit of a font of knowledge

Wish I had a pond to play with too, good luck

[agrumpycow]

Cheers.
I'm pretty convinced it is blanketweed but will get a photo at some point.
And I'll follow this up with any changes