What's the problem with duckweed? It's not a problem if kept under control, it provides shade, some fish eat it, pond insects love it and it's not unattractive floating on the surface of a
nature pond.
Is duckweed good for wildlife
ponds?
if controlled it can be beneficial to a wildlife pond, but uncontrolled duckweed is a problem, if the surface is completely covered sunlight is shaded from getting into the pond. All living things need light to
survive, so totally shading out sunlight will kill the submerged plants, invertebrates and other pond-life living in the bottom of the pond. They would die and decompose using up
any oxygen that was getting through the duckweed. Eventually Killing off the ecosystem, leading to the death of the pond. Meanwhile the Duck Weed would continue to grow.
I have seen this happen in wild ponds, leaving only the duckweed and marginal plants living and of course the ducks.
Controlling Duckweed with chemicals and bacteria.
There aren't any chemical Duckweed-killers available to the public. Some garden and water garden retailers stock a product called
'Duckweed Control' it contains a bacterial culture that removes nutrients from the water to discourage duckweed. They say it's safe to use in garden ponds and won't harm any of the
pondlife, animals including newts and frogs at various stages of development, plus stacks of invertebrates.
On the label it says "eco friendly" and "frog friendly" and "contains selected bacteria" and "suitable for use in all types of ponds".
It doesn't have a list of active ingredients, though it does say "wash hands after use" and "keep out of reach of children".
BEWARE I would be wary of damaging the eco-system in my 'wildlife' ponds. I prefer instead
to control the duckweed By reducing the nutrients naturally as I have explained above.
Reduce the nutrients by;
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Stopping over feeding your fish.
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Stopping adding fertilisers for pond plants, they don't need it, fish, frogs, newts
all pooh in your pond, providing all the fertiliser your pond plants need to keep them healthy.
IT Works, I know!