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Algae and blanket weed will spread even more quickly under favourable conditions and can harm aquatic life living in the pond. There are hundreds of different varieties of algae that can cause a problem in ponds, from those that are suspended in water to others that spread across the surface in long fibres. Apart from looking unattractive in a pristine garden, blanket weed can lead to the deoxygenation of water with a detrimental effect on any pond life you may have.
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There are many different symptoms of blanket weed, depending on the type of algae you have present.
The most common symptoms, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, are:
- A ‘pea soup’ effect caused by fine algae suspended in water
- Floating green scum
- Blanket weed or silkweed have dense growths of hair-like green strands that float under or on the surface, or cling to plants at the side of the pond
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How to get rid of blanket weed
Given that blanket weed thrives in the same conditions as pond fish, naturally, homeowners create the right conditions for it to grow in most ponds.
The most natural and effective way to get rid of blanket weed is to remove it on a regular basis.
Each time the algae grows it takes with it organic waste and converts them into filamentous green growths in the pond.
This weed is actually purifying and cleaning out your pond when it does this.
As a measure of control, you can let it grow to its maximum potential then, with a stick or blanket weed brush, remove as much as you can.
Once you have collected everything you can, leave it in a pile right next to the pond for a couple of days.
This will ensure any wildlife accidentally picked up have enough time to get back into the water.