Controlling Algae In Your Garden Pond

That ugly looking, greenish goo that gathers in your garden pond is known as algae. It is actually a form of plant that feeds off sunlight and the nutrients in your pond. Pond algae is a natural component of the pond’s miniature ecosystem and can be helpful in the health of the fish, plants and other pond inhabitants. The responsibility of a pond owner is the find the right balance between water clarity and algae content. Some algae content is good, as it allows fish to take cover from the sun. It also prevents light rays from penetrating to the bottom of the pond where plants can begin to grow out of control.

If you experience sudden algae growth, then it is important to find the reason for it. There is one main reason why algae can grow out of control. When nutrients in the water become ample, algae take advantage of this and begin to multiply. Nutrient sources include fish excrement, dead plant material, and even fertilizer. Algae tried to balance this excess content by consuming it. As long as the food source is not constantly resupplied, the pond will eventually return to normal conditions once the supply runs out.

You can take matters into your own hands and speed up this process by taking away the food source. Make sure that when you are watering plants around the pond that water runoff does not flow into the pond. The water can carry fertilizer that you used on your plants. This will enter the pond and dissolve, resulting in the perfect food source. If you have any plants nearby that shed dead leaves, they can accumulate inside the pond, especially near the bottom. Use a net or your hands to pick out the leave s or material. As the material degrades, it rots and forms nutrients that the algae feed off of. Removing the material eliminates the food source.

Excess algae can be caused by having too many or too big of fish in your pond. Many well fed fish can emit lots of fish waste into the pond which also acts as a food source. The algae love this decaying material and in turn reproduce to take advantage of it. If you just can’t seem to get a handle on your algae issue, you can turn to unnatural methods. This includes the use of chemicals which are poured directly into the water. It will kill the algae and leave your water clean and clear. Make sure the chemical is designed to be used with living fish in the water, if you have any.

If owning a pond just isn’t your thing, consider growing  plants in a greenhouse. It’s a great way to grow your favorite plants year-round.