Add barley straw minibales to the pond now to keep it healthy this Spring.
Your pond may start to go green soon with algae or blanketweed after the Winter cold turns to warmer weather:
- Add the first of this year's barley straw minibales this month so it becomes activated before the surface of the water warms up.
- Barley straw is an organic method of algae control - safe for wildlife, pets and plants.
- Barley straw minibales need a month to activate so put them into the water now so they are ready before more sunshine.
- Remove any old minibales from last year and throw these onto the compost heap.
- Barley straw minibales should not sink to the base of the pond so ours have a small float attached.
- They can be tied near a waterfall or pump outlet so they are constantly being moved around by the water flow.
- They will need changing after 6 months so keep a second bale dry if not using both from the pack and add the second in July to activate.
- Remove any used barley minibales in August after the one month overlap.
If you have a container pond or small pond use liquid Barley Bio Algae Control.
- This liquid concentrate works more immediately and does not need to be added a month in advance.
- Both these products are organic and safe for wildlife, pets and plants.
- Barley Bio has additional beneficial enzymes.
- Buy now and start to use the necessary measurement for your pond volume fortnightly from March onward.
- Use the timing of the clocks going back/forward as your reminder to start/stop usage.
- Increase dosage to weekly when the weather warms.
For more information visit our Tips and Advice pages: Blanketweed and algae control
