It may come as a shock to some but pond algae isn’t the only plant that can take over a pond and make life miserable for the frustrated pond owner.
Of the free-floating plants that show up a lot in the summer, duckweed has to be near the top of the list. This particular growth is not an algae at all but a rooted plant that floats on the surface of a pond and often get’s blown from end to end as the wind dictates.
Many people attempt to treat duckweed with a typical algae control like a copper sulphate based algaecide and find out pretty quickly that the stuff won’t make a dent in the growth. What’s often needed is a form of aquatic herbicide. Even with these it’s best to treat really early in the growth cycle and not wait too long. It get’s harder to control as it goes along.
Since duckweed pulls much of it’s nutritional support directly from the water itself, it’s possible to control it with beneficial bacteria sometimes. It’s really important to begin treating with a bio well before the plant would traditionally show up and see if you can nutrient loads down enough to keep it from blooming with gusto.
To learn more about my take on duckweed and see an up close and personal video on it, just click the play button below.
 |
|
No related posts.
