Blanket weeds are a blight for many gardeners, covering ponds with an unsightly green growth and harming the health of pond life. It’s therefore important to target these stringy green algae as soon as they appear, whether in a garden pond, or a larger public one. There are a series of blanket weed treatments available in the UK, helping to restore a pond to pristine condition. But it’s ultimately more important to treat the root cause of algae growth in a pond. Why UK Gardeners Hate Blanket Weeds in Their Ponds PVC Imperial Pressure Pipe & Fittings PVC Imperial High Pressure Fittings PVC Imperial High Pressure Pipe Solvent Weld Heavy Duty Pipe & Fittings Heavy Duty Metric Solvent Fittings Heavy Duty Metric Solvent Pipe Oase Push Fit Pipe & Fittings Flexible Rubber Boot Connectors Flexi Connector - Standard Use Flexi Connector - Fernco More Flexible Rubber Boot Connectors

Sansai - 3 Year Old Ogata Koi Yonsai - 4 Year Old Ogata Koi Gosai - 5 Year Old Ogata Koi All Ogata Koi For Sale Pond Aeration: Proper pond aeration can help increase oxygen levels in the water, which can inhibit the growth of blanket weeds. Aeration can also help improve overall pond health and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that can naturally compete with blanket weed. Not only does blanket weed make your pond look unappealing, it can also be sign that your chemical balance isn’t right within the pond, even if your water is clear.You Are Here : Help and Advice> Help Solving Problems> How to Cure Pond Blanket Weed How to Cure Pond Blanket Weed There are three main factors that can cause blanket weed to form within ponds: excessive sunlight and nutrients, and a high pH level. These factors are also the possible reason for any reoccurring blanket weed problems. Keep the water well oxygenated in hot, humid weather,especially if you have fish, by running a bubble fountain or similar. Solar-powered fountains are readily available. This can also help to deter blue-green algae

Place decaying plant material on the side of the pond, so any smaller creatures hiding in it can return to the pond later Nutrients from manures and fertilisers can be washed in to a pond by heavy rain. Ideally design and build a pond to avoid this, and do not apply these close to the pond To fully treat blanket weed within a pond you’ll need to alter the conditions that caused it to grow in the first place. As the main cause of algae growth is excess nutrient content, you should work to lower the levels in your pond, and avoid contributing to them: However, there several short-term fixes you can also try, but they need to be repeated to keep algae at bay:

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As the water level falls, remove any fish as they become visible, carefully placing them in the holding tank. Do likewise with any larger pond creatures you find Pond Aeration: Install a pond aerator to improve oxygen levels in the water. Adequate oxygen levels discourage the growth of blanket weeds and other unwanted aquatic plants. The increased oxygen also promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria that compete with the blanket weed for nutrients, helping to reduce its growth. Don’t add more nutrients. Rotting vegetation such as dead leaves falling into the pond from surrounding trees, fresh water added to the pond during drought periods or run-off from surrounding areas, especially farm land, will all give the nutrient levels a boost.

Solution 3: Pond Aeration. Proper pond aeration can help increase oxygen levels in the water. Moving water inhibits the growth of blanket weeds and promotes a healthy pond environment. Secondly, shade the surface of your pond to fend off any algal bloom. Without doubt, we have found that the best plants for surface shade are water lilies. When their leaves cover up to half the water surface they will provide enough shade to protect the pond from getting too much sunshine, keeping blanket weed at bay.

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The most common way of solving Blanketweed is treatment and the choice of treatments is huge. The more traditional Algaecides have become less popular, with most customers preferring more eco or natural treatments such as Extract of Barley Straw. We often get asked “Which is the best treatment” and to be honest they all have their merits and can have varying degrees of success depending on what kind of Blanketweed is in your pond. I have stood in our shop while two customers have had a very heated argument about the effectiveness of one particular treatment, once singing it praises the other stating it is a total waste of money. Our most popular treatment at the moment is the Nishikoi - Clearwaters or Evolution Aqua - STOP Blanketweed, but you may have to try a few until you find the best one for your pond. For any treatment to be effective it is vital that the pond volume is calculate accurately and the appropriate dose used. Snails:Ramshorn snails will eat your pond algae alongside any uneaten fish food! They are usually available in shops during the summer, but ensure you introduce only Ramshorn snails as they are particularly good for algae. You can find out more information on Pond Snails here. Solution 2: Algae Control Products. There are various algae control products available, including chemicals and treatments that specifically target blanket weed. This product disrupts its growth or promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. Sturgeon Food Sturgeon - Adult Sturgeon - Junior Automatic Fish Feeders Auto Feeder - Indoor Use Auto Feeder - Outdoor Use Although it is unsightly, it can have it uses. Fish love to spawn in it, it makes a fantastic home for fish fry and is the first food for tadpoles when they emerge from their eggs. However, it can also be dangerous. Some large fish can get tied up in it and die, Sturgeon are well known for this but we have also heard of large Koi being affected. It can also have a negative impact on the oxygen levels in your ponds. Like most plants algae produces oxygen during the day, but reverses the process at night, so too much blanketweed in a pond may mean that the fish are starved of oxygen just before dawn.