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Duck Weed

bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
in Problem solving
Hello everybody. We did what some people suggested about using a chemical to reduce and hopefully get rid of the duckweed.
It seemed to be working and we did 4 goes at it.
HOWEVER all back to normal.
Does anyone out there have any other suggestions as how we can rid our poind of duckweed....no ducks.

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I think it is extremely difficult to eradicate it completely.  Scooping it from the surface works well for a while.
    Depends what sort of pond you have but in some respects I have actually found it helpful in really high temps such as we are experiencing at the mo.  The duck weed covers the surface of the pond and acts like a cover ( tho it will grow a bit faster than your average surface plant ! ) - it's like ground cover planting but in water.
    I may well be alone in this but I don't know of a chemical free product which would eliminate it entirely. 
    Even if there was such a product, I'd assume it wouldn't take long for it to re appear at a later date.
    You don't necessarily have to have Ducks in the vicinity ;)

     

  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I’ve accepted that I have to live with it, and I scoop some out by hand every day, or every other day in the summer. I try to see this as relaxing, mindful activity, and it kind of works 😁. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Emerion said:
    I’ve accepted that I have to live with it, and I scoop some out by hand every day, or every other day in the summer. I try to see this as relaxing, mindful activity, and it kind of works 😁. 
    I agree that is the way to go :D
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Thank you both. Yes this is what we had been doing over the years but as it became so much we tried using a chemical (not something we would want to do) and whilst firstly it seemed to control the duckweed it is all back again.
    So as you say back to scooping out.
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    I was probably one of the people recommending the (organic, wildlife-friendly) chemical solution. We treated our pond with this many years ago and the duckweed hasn't come back. But I wonder if it depends on whether there are other local ponds that have duckweed. We don't have any other ponds nearby so this probably has prevented the duck weed from being reintroduced.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS offers this info and advice -
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=366 

    We have a large-ish unlined pond dug to provide water for cattle when this was a working farm.  It was more of a bog when we moved in so we hired a chappy with a mini bulldozer to come and clear it of all the goat willow, brambles, tree seedlings, bulrushes and so on.   

    It was pristine and empty but, 3.5 years on, it's full and we have bulrushes growing back and duckweed but is now too deep for OH to don his waders and go in and clear them.   Might have to get a couple of Indian running ducks.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I only find it a problem in the small wildlife tubs sunk in the ground and try and scoop out as much as I can.
    In the fish pond it is not a problem as the fish eat it so never gets to the point of taking over.
    I never feed my fish so they have no choice but to eat the weed!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've never had it in any pond. 
    I've also never thought of introducing it, but I was having a look at a couple of sites, and they say aerating helps because it doesn't like moving water. 
    Maybe worth a try?

    I expect it 'travels' from other ponds via birds' feet etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No fish here in case the pond dries out in a heat wave tho even last year when they went on forever it stayed wet in the deepest point.  Loads of toads and frogs tho and probably newts.  Visits from cattle egrets.  Never seen a duck or heron in there.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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