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Pesky duck weed!

Jasmine5Jasmine5 Posts: 42
in Problem solving
Help!  My pond is overrun with duckweed!  Fish area is ok as we can use the nets however I have one separated area which is full of tadpoles so I don’t want to suck them up in a net and risk hurting them. Its only a thin layer so far but I’ve heard it can starve the pond of oxygen and I don’t want the taddies or the fish to be under threat. Any techniques to clear the tadpole bit safely?  Thx

Posts

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We use a turkey baister. I kid you not.  It’s great for gently sucking up the weed and getting in between the stems of delicate pond plants.  
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You could use the sprinkler setting on a hose, and use it to gently push the duckweed into the open where you can net it out.
    I think it's unlikely to be of any trouble though, the tads can hide and get shade from it, so unless there are other factors, you could just leave it

    Innovative idea KOG :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    Love the turkey baister idea. I’m definitely going to try that. 
  • DesthemoanerDesthemoaner Posts: 191
    You could buy a solar powered oxygenating pump, which will move the weed from the surface area where the bubbles are produced. If you want to clear a larger area,  remove the weed by hand between thumb and forefinger, leaving it on the side of the pond overnight so that anything caught up can get back into the pond before you dispose of it. Personally, I think duckweed looks quite attractive. 
  • Jasmine5Jasmine5 Posts: 42
    edited June 2018
    Loving the turkey baster idea!  And yes I am happy for the shade and cover it gives to be honest too. Haven’t seen a fish in weeks!  Thanks for the replies. I think we’ll have a bit of a clear out over the weekend and see how we go. 
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    If you do want rid of it then there's a product called Eco-friendly duckweed control which will eliminate it but it takes several applications to work. We used it in our pond with complete success.
  • WateryWatery Posts: 388
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemnoideae Duckweed is quite useful.  I wonder if some people are confusing algae with duckweed.  I don't think you can pinch out much duckweed with thumb and forefinger.  I use a strainer to clear some spots--although it quickly recovers. Apparently you can eat it (I wouldn't from my own small pond) and it's good cattle feed etc.   I would think it acts as an oxygenator because it will undergo photosynthesis. http://www.internationallemnaassociation.org/duckweed-applications/
    It can apparently be used as a mulch: http://www.internationallemnaassociation.org/duckweed-applications/  (Sorry...I googled and learned so many interesting things!)



  • Jasmine5Jasmine5 Posts: 42
    Thanks Watery, I'll stick to shop-bought salad LOL but interesting about the mulch idea!  It's definitely the duckweed - tiny 2-3 petal floating leaves which multiply like mad.  I have purchased a turkey baster from eBay and am going to give that a go this weekend while we do a bit of a clean up in the main pond.  Ordinarily we would just scoop out with a net which works well but I dont want to hurt the tadpoles.  We have our pumps switched off at the moment which isnt helping I'm sure so they'll be going back on this weekend in the main lido - thanks for everyone's help and suggestions :)
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Depends how big your pond is. Use a garden hose to push all the duckweed into a small area and then just net it out. You could leave the net in the pond for an hour full of duckweed and that would let any tadpoles scooped out swim free. or dump the duckweed scooped out into a basin and do a visual check before consigning it to the compost heap. 
    The turkey baster idea would only work for miniscule ponds and for them you could just scoop the stuff out with your hands! 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
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