Using a Barleystraw minibale in a pond:
Renew the Barleystraw minibale now that you put into the pond last February/March.
The pond needs to have a constant supply of fresh barleystraw to combat greenwater and blanketweed algae.
- Barleystraw decomposes over time
- The existing minibale is old now
- Add its replacement to the water to float alongside it for now
- Leave the old minibale in whilst the new one is activating
- Make a note to remove the old one next month
- If barleystraw is left to rot down completely in your pond it will add to the sludge on the pond base
- This rotting will create more algae or blanketweed in the future as it continues to deteriorate
So add a new minibale and remove the old one in July/August.
You should renew the barleystraw minibale like this twice a year - once in February (remove the old in March) and again in July (remove the old in August).
Liquid Barleystraw Products:
Continue to add the liquid Barley Bio Algae Control weekly to a small pond or container pond feature to keep the water free from greenwater and blanketweed growth in these hot summer months.
- When it starts to get cooler change to fortnightly dosing.
- Don't stop dosing until the clocks go back in October.
- Start again with the change of the clocks next Spring unless March is a hot one and then you need to start earlier.
