how do you get rid of blanket weed in a pond?

Question

its a small pond with some fish and a few plants.

Answer 1

The best way is to dip a large stick into the pond and twizzle it around until the blanket weed wraps around it. Then, as with all plant matter removed from ponds, leave it at the water's edge so that any water creatures you have accidentally removed can crawl back into the pond. It's time consuming but it's the only chemical-free environmentally friendly way.

Also, you can reduce algal growths by sinking a small bundle of hay in the water. I don't know the exact scientific explanation, but it's something to do with bacteria that grow on the hay being poisonous to the algae (?). It works anyway, and you can even buy ready made bundels in garden centres.

Whatever you do, make sure to get it out soon as it can kill fish. Is the pond new? Sometimes new ponds need time to establish a natural balance and these kind of problems just disappear, as long as there is plenty of oxygenating weed, like canadian pond weed, to counter the effects of excrement of the fish and other animals.

Is the pond in full sun? Sun causes algae to grow in ponds, shade it with some plants like a gunnera or some flag irises.

Answer 2

I have found the way to eradicate blanket weed is using blanket weed cure from a nursery/fish supplier. You sprinkle it in the water every week or so depending on the brand. Take out all you can by hand first and the chemical will do the rest - it does not harm the fish or plants.

If you don't want to use chemicals you can throw in a bundle of barley straw. This works for many people and here in the UK farmers sometimes put bales of the stuff in the river.

By the way blanket weed is a great addition to the compost heap.

Regards,

Jim M

Answer 3

so as not to disturb the fish or other plants you want to keep, the only suggestion would be to pull it out by hand.

we have a problem where I live with an invasive pond plant and volunteers wade in and pull it out by the roots.

Answer 4

dip a garden fork or something similar into the surface, and just keep twisting it around until you have it all, make sure you leave it next to the pond so that all the creatures can crawl back in.
to stop it coming back, you need oxegenating plants and something like a surface lilly to give it some shade.

Answer 5

completly clean out pond ,refill addoxygenating plants put fish back n i bet a pond near by gave it to yer.its also barley sraw thats good for ponds

Answer 6

either by pulling it out or use a chemical or you can us a wire that lays around the pond and puts out electrical pulses all these from your local garden centre

Answer 7

Use a tool similar to lawn rake, by drawing it through the weed and lifting it out. Or just use your hands. A very simple task.

Answer 8

man let sum pot heads come over and smoke it up