Duck Pond Weed

fathersymes

Our duck ponds tend to weed up very badly in the summer, we clear out the weed manually but I was wondering is there anything which can be sprayed to control the weeds (ecologically), Roundup apparently becomes inert when it comes in contact with soil, definitely wouldn't want to use anything which would be harmful to the environment though.

jap gt

throw a few net bags filled with barley straw into the pond, it stops algae growing

welsummer

put enought ducks on it

Birdnuts

fathersymes wrote: »

Our duck ponds tend to weed up very badly in the summer, we clear out the weed manually but I was wondering is there anything which can be sprayed to control the weeds (ecologically), Roundup apparently becomes inert when it comes in contact with soil, definitely wouldn't want to use anything which would be harmful to the environment though.

Roundup and other sprays are all toxic to a number of aquatic organisms and are not recommed or indeed legal(under various water pollution acts) for use in such situations. I would go with the straw suggestion personally since I have seen it work well in similiar situations:)

fathersymes

Thanks for the straw suggestion and I won't be going down the herbicide route as it would affect aquatic life etc.

Birdnuts wrote: »

Roundup and other sprays are all toxic to a number of aquatic organisms and are not recommed or indeed legal(under various water pollution acts) for use in such situations. I would go with the straw suggestion personally since I have seen it work well in similiar situations:)

clivej

fathersymes wrote: »

Thanks for the straw suggestion and I won't be going down the herbicide route as it would affect aquatic life etc.

It MUST be Barley staw that you use to clear the pond. If the pond is big just put in a square bail of it, or just half a bail soaking in the pond.

Half-cocked

+1 on the barley straw, works a treat.

terminator2

clivej wrote: »

It MUST be Barley staw that you use to clear the pond. If the pond is big just put in a square bail of it, or just half a bail soaking in the pond.

does the bail float or sink clive

welsummer

barley straw stop the water from turning green from a build up of algai over the warm days of summer and does nothing to stop to stop the growth of weeds

clivej

terminator2 wrote: »

does the bail float or sink clive

don't know

LostCovey

clivej wrote: »

terminator2 wrote: »

does the bail float or sink clive

don't know

It sinks and only works for algae. In fact it may worsen the weed situation. I also think that Roundup might surprisingly be ok as the Fisheries Board may use it a bit on salmonid waters. Check that.

Double Barrel

LC,

Roundup specifically states that it is not approved for aquatic applications.
Roundup has a surfactant in it that is toxic to fish and other aquatic life and that is why it is not approved for aquatic applications.

The restrictions are not to spray on a body of water or in/around ditches or ponds to be used for irrigation.

Some informed (peer reviewed) reading:

http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Roundup-Glyphosate-Factsheet-Cox.htm

Tackleberrywho

Very few guys square bale straw these days.
Barley straw for sale all over the country at the mo.

Duck shi*e is the worst pollutant in a small pond.
Mate of mine had a lovely fish pond, got 2 young farmed mallard, water turned yella and fish started dying.

Reeds are natural water filters.