Blanket weed prevention

Good guy · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:48 am Post subject: Blanket weed prevention

I wonder when is the best time to put barley straw in the pond, to stop the blanket weed growing. I'm thinking of the high temperatures forecast for next weekend.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:17 am Post subject:

If your pond is as cold as mine, (I don't know how the fish stand it, it is painfully cold) it would have to be VERY warm weather to make a difference. I think light has a lot to do with it as well. I don't think it would hurt to get some straw now it was in short supply last year.

Good guy · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:17 am Post subject:

I have the straw Sue. I got a whole bale from a friend last year. Yes, the water is b***y cold! I was doing some last-minute pond cleaning yesterday, before the tadpoles hatch and my hands were freezing.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:40 am Post subject:

Oooohhh! Tell me about it! I was doing a bit of pond tidying at the weekend. My waterproof gloves only go so far, brrrrrr.

Greengage · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:55 pm Post subject:

I think we had this discussion before: http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about7267.html
If you google Barley straw banned you will find lots of info, wheather its good or bad i dont know but who is going to police it.
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5486

Good guy · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 6:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Greengage

Good guy · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 6:28 pm Post subject:

Wow did i write all that?

Greengage · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 6:31 pm Post subject:

Even Im shocked sometimes reading what I post here, sometimes we can look very clever.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 6:40 pm Post subject:

Greengage - the air around here turned blue when I read that. Shocked

I wondered why the local garden centres had stopped stocking it.

So then, barley straw in your pond might be considered a bio-hazard, but it is OK in the water supply, along with the REAL toxins fluoride and chlorine? Ye gods and little fishes, I give up!

Anyone got any illegal barley straw I can have - I PROMISE I won't use it in the pond (but it might accidentally get blown in there) oops.

tagwex · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 2:28 am Post subject:

Tut tut.