Marsh Marigolds, blanket weed, newts etc.

I made the pond a little larger a couple of years ago creating a shallow area for plants. Drained water put frogs etc into temp hotel. Dug down cut out masonry/fibre glass side of pond re concreted new part to butt up to old part then re glass fibered the whole thing 2 coats. Was 7 ft x 4ft now about 2.5 m x 2.5m. Ponds need a bit of help sometimes and mine is no exception. I have loads of newts for a small pond so the water must be ok. This year for some reason blanket weed and quite bad. I believe there are a few sorts I seem to remember having green bubbles one year. I am trying to combat this with a bale of Barley straw. Any one had success with this.

 

Barley straw has been very successful for me for many years.
Ideally you needed it put it in around February ,it takes a month or so to do it's stuff.I usually refresh it July/August.
Some oxygenating plants are essential as well.
So get it in straight away.

 

Fingers crossed it will work for me roders. I have a small filtration system and oxygenating plants but the latter are having a hard time with the ol blanket weed. Everyone should have a pond wiseowl a great place to have tea and quite often there will be something new to watch.

 

Your pond looks great @hans , if your having a problems with blanket weed I can recommend cloverleaf 75% of mine has disappeared since I used it at the beginning of April

 

- Hi
what is cloverleaf ?

 

Hi @Spruce
http://www.cloverleaf.uk.net/index.html

 

I will be looking into Cloverleaf mowgley.

how do you tag is it in 'link' put a @ in front of persons name. ? Advise pls.

 

Yes @hans

 

Thanks @mowgley

 

Did u use aquatic compost for the plants ? I dont really get the blanket weed because mine is well shaded limiting intense sunlight on the same part of the pond for too long.

 

hi @WeeTam (Tag clever huh) I used ordinary garden compost although by now it is 2 or 3 years old. It gets full sun for a large part of the day so it probably warms up. The lilies in a week or so will help. It has been worse since I created the shallow area. This April has been very sunny so ideal for BWeed. I probably have quite a bit of silt in the deep area that may need attention but at the mo it has Dragonfly lava, tadpoles etc. Other plants, just emerging, grow quite tall but contribute to the silt in late Autumn.

 

Lily will help big time.I think its recommended to have a third in shade. Silt shouldnt do any harm, ive got a lot too no clean out in 20 years.
Have u got some oxygenators inthere? They make huge difference and whenthey get growing the water clears up atreat.

 

I have oxygenators and a splashy pump water inlet. It is a bit low water wise I do try not to use the tap. I use top up water from my shed roofs usually connected after a good wash from the rain. Cooler weather ahead will help a bit. Barley should start working soon and if that has not done the trick I will try Cloverleaf. Trial and error really.

 

I wish , wish , wish I had visiting Frogs , Toads and Newts. Mine has been down for 2 years and Zilch , Nada . I made it into a shallow , wildlife pond and the only thing that visits is Blanket weed