Help with my pond please

[tigertom]

Hi hope some one can help I have med sized pond in my garden wich has a large number of smoth newts that breed in it, Problem I have is duck weed its taken over to point that all other pond weed starts to die off and this is what newts lay use to lay eggs on. Is there any way I can control duck weed as no matter what I do it is back as quick as I can move it with net wich takes time as I have to check net for newt tads and other things befor I can dump it on compost heap, I have been told some grass carp would help but would these also eat newt tads and my other weeds newts found own way to my pond as is lot of ponds near by to me, some with great crested newts though none of these foun way to my pond as yet.THANK YOU

[Kayleigh]

Hi and welcome to WAB,
I am having the same problem all we can do is plant more plants and I plant watercress to reduce the nutrient levels so starve the duckweed this is proving impossible and also try to cut down on the amount of tap water you use to top up your pond..
I would not add fish..

[tom00_uk]

grass carp only work for controlling algae and duckweed in modern koi ponds where there is no planting just a deep water body as they have only the algae/duck weed and fish food to feed on.

If you introduce them to a planted pond then that's going to be the last thing they will feed on, since there will be a ready supply of inverts and other tasty plants.


when its been a problem for me i tend skim off duck weed using a old tennis/squash racket. It provides a long reach and has big enough holes to encourage most inverts to fall through back into the water as the weed drys out before composting.

late autumn try and remove as much as possible and then keep on top again in spring and you can eradicated it quickly. Though it will be reintroduced by visiting wildlife and plant purchases unless you inspect them

[Deb London]

I have to skim it off regularly. I think it will give up before I do - I am a very patient and persistent person.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. I discovered a dead and dried froglet on one of my edging stones (even though I have treated then). So now I have a new use for duckweed. I get great handfuls of the stuff and smear it over the stones, between the stones, anywhere I think the froglets will make their escape. There isn't enough weed to cover them yet. I am now willing it to grow. (An added bonus is that I must have handled several leeches now and have partially lost my fear of them. )