Ponds and blanketweed

zugenie

I’m not sure why but my pond is already suffering heavily from blanketweed, I’ve treated it a couple of times already but it still persists!!! I’m a bit at the end of my tether as I tried to plant heavily to avoid this, have only topped up with rainwater etc but it is a bit relentless 

madpenguin

I use a product called Cloverleaf Blanket Answer.
Use it each year now.It looks a bit funny when you first use it as it covers everything in the pond with a white powdery film but this soon goes.Perfectly safe to use.
Always best to start with as clean a pond as possible.

zugenie

@madpenguin that’s what I’ve been using!

Pete.8

It's too cold for it to work atm..
I use it in my Koi pond sometimes, works well.
But the water needs to be above 10C for it to work.

Fairygirl

Yes - too cold for it to work at this time of year. I'd need to break the ice on my pond just now to do anything
I've used the one @madpenguin mentions, as I built a new pond a couple of years ago, so most of the planting is yet to establish well.
There's usually a bit of 'stuff' in spring when water starts to warm up, but it gradually disappears as the plants get going, especially surface planting .

Have you got a pic of the pond @zugenie? That might give us a few ideas for offering advice. 

Joyce Goldenlily

The pond weed probably came in on some of the new plants you have put in. Keep treating when it is warmer.

Butterfly66

We try and do a regular “twirling” session during the winter with an old bamboo cane to try and get a much as we can. That seems to give us a head start so the treatment works well once it’s warm enough to apply

bédé

Blanket weed spores are in the air and already in the water of every pond.  They require lower temperatures and light-levels than most pond plants, so start into growth earlier in the season (or in fact never stop).

Starting the season with algicide is the slippery path to addiction.

What fish density and feeding regime to you have?  What plants and plant density.

I have few fish and feed regularly (so they come when I call).  I use no additives, but have lots of oxygenators, and waterlily shade in the summer.

Blanket weed is under control.  If it builds up a bit I remove by hand.

TheGreenMan

Ha! Same problem here. I was coming on to ask for advice. 

I guess I will twirl until the weather warms up. 

debs64

I have that product in my basket for my 3 tiny ponds and will buy it once the weather improves. Thanks for the information 

Fairygirl

Twirling is always necessary 
Still too cold here for any blanket weed just now, but there's likely to be a bit next month when things start moving. Once the plants get going it's easier, and having plenty of oxygenators helps too. I probably won't use any of the mix this year though - I should have enough planting to help keep it at bay.
Watercress is useful as it takes up a lot of nutrients that these things feed on. You just chuck a bit in. In mild areas it would probably overwinter quite well and will help early on in the year. I had some last spring as we really didn't have a winter that  year. 

As @Butterfly66 says - lots of bits and pieces can come in with plants.