Thanks!

Built my pond in June last year 2022. Used all natural rain water to fill it up and got all native plants in. The frogs and newts have moved in already but so to has the blanket weed. I'm trying to leave as much as I can but at the same time not smothering my plants. Having watched this I realised I need more surface plants more lillies and things. Great video thanks

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome Paul, and I really appreciate your message. If you're in the UK then the pond plants will be available very soon (most are dormant at the moment) on www.wildyourgarden.com and we're always happy to give free advice on the best plants for whichever size pond. So glad you've made this vital habitat for nature and are clearly being rewarded for your efforts. Thank you again, best wishes - Joel

@Murcialagos

Ай бұрын

My pond is coming up to one year old and has attracted frogs and numerous invertebrates. There is blanket weed and I too realise I need more surface cover. I have been removing the weed, although not at the moment as there are numerous tadpoles, and am pleased to see that, without knowing it, I have done it in the right way. However, liberally mixed in with the weed are what I believe to be bryozoan, and it has proved impossible to separate but a few of them from the weed. Any suggestions? Also I have to be careful as to where I lay the weed on the pond edge as one of my dogs has taken a liking to eating it! Thankfully no apparent negative side effects on him though!

Valuable video about blanket weed. From experience with traditional fish ponds and blanket weed over the years, I can say I have never found a product that can combat it . Believe me I have tried many a different manufacturers products which all claim to be the No 1 on the market to no avail . So 12 months in with my first dedicated wildlife pond , yes blanket weed has been an issue but routinely gardening the pond and removing by hand has been the way forward. The plus side to this is that if find myself on my knees gazing into the water noticing all manner of tiny critters you just don’t get to see normally. On the subject of tadpole predation I can say our resident Robins relish them although not enough to cause a problem on their numbers and truth be known it’s only nature taking its course..

Very instructive, and I'm reassured that what I'm doing is about right. I actually use a two-stage process: (1) put the blanket weed into a large trug or trugs, and scoop out creatures as I see them, and then (2) pull out the blanket weed by hand and do what you suggest - inspect by hand and then leave at the pond side for 24 hours. I lose count of the number of wildlife ponders who fret about even relatively small amounts of blanket weed - but as you say it's actually beneficial in many ways. Enjoyed the video!

Nice to know that I’m not the only one to have problems with blanket weed, however I’ve not got much so far this year though. Maybe still a bit cold up here 🥶

I really like a Wild Your Garden pond video. I would love to see more pond experimentation. I realise they are for customers but I’m sure some customers would be interested in being part of an experiment. Such as maybe if two ponds of a similar size was appropriate for a garden to tap fill one and leave the other to naturally fill. Maybe at a site with a high amount of leaf litter coming from a side try a feature like a tall dead brush hedgerow to shield the pond. Where a site had little subsoil instead cover the top fleece with a layer of rounded pebbles. Then in the future to revisit the sites and see how the experiments got on. You have inspired me you build a pond as big as I can in my tiny sloping garden next to the sea in Shetland. With no dragonflies and native amphibians I was wanting to build a pond that was good for sticklebacks and perhaps instead of kingfishers I might attract terns!

Cloverleaf, Blanket Answer. the best for that problem!!

I used some eco-friendly algae remover last year and I suspect I measured it wrong as all the blanket weed around the edges of the pond liner vanished but also every snail, of which we had had many. I guess it was their main food source but there are loads of other plants so I suspect I inadvertently poisoned them. 😔 An issue we have is that the pond is at the bottom of the garden so when there is heavy rain, water overflowing from the sewers runs down our drive and into the pond. Another thing to think about if you have the option to site it higher up the garden if on a slope. I found some dead frogs and newts after a particularly heavy downpour last summer but thankfully the babies survived.

Hey Joel! Lovely pond and great info as usual. Planning a revamp on mine this year, put it in after watching your video during lockdown and need to rectify some mistakes I made. Hope you and yours had a good weekend nice to feel the weather warming up and the days getting longer. Notice you're creeping up to the 50k subscribers! Think how many of them might have added a pond or added some wild ideas to their gardens! Best wishes.

Very informative ensuring checking for life underneath 👍

Wonderful video, clear and very educational. Thank you so much, I will follow your videos. Keep up the great work.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

18 күн бұрын

Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking time out to let me know and for the encouragement and support, it does make a difference - welcome to the channel, best wishes - Joel

I wrapped barbed wire around one end of a long pole and put it on the blanket weed and twirl it around. It works quite well. I leave the weed at the edge of my pond too. Once my water lilies and water lettuce cover the surface, the blanket weed nearly disappears. I have the downspout from my house going straight into the pond and that flushes the water of extra nutrients and keeps the ph down. 5 blobs of frog spawn showed up last night, so the frogs must have been very busy.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Ай бұрын

Really good to read this - a great tip. And you have demonstrated that having good cover on the surface of a pond keeps it cool, particularly in smaller garden ponds and keeping it cool can help prevent algae and blanket weed - great news about the frogs, your garden works! Best wishes, Joel

Thanks. Good to see I’m doing the right things to manage this stuff.

Sat by my pond today. Had loads of weed. I have a weed brush on the end of a pole that I use. It works brilliantly. I have loads of frog spawn, but none of its hatched yet. I removed some, but left a bit as well for just the purpose of the frogspawn having something to eat when they hatch. Thank you for all the advice you give though. It always useful.

As a new pond owner/creator a very timely and reassuring video as I've been worrying about how much I will get and how quickly I need to establish some cover.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

So glad this was helpful to you - I hope you find the whole channel helpful, welcome to the great community we have here :) Best wishes, Joel

Much respect, from New Zealand.👍 I was hooking a bit of blanketweed out of my pond this afternoon.....not the same nifty tool but same procedure!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

7 ай бұрын

Thank you, so much - it is a bind but tadpoles do appreciate a little left in there in spring. Best wishes, Joel

Nice content Joel, I don't mind removing blanket weed gives me a chance to see what is living in my pond with my granddaughter,who is fast becoming a bit of an expert on everything wildlife, we both enjoy your videos Joel,please keep them coming.

Very timely as I removed some from my pond today. Next time I'll leave it on the side for a day before composting. Thanks!

Good idea with the rake Joel. One day when pond is done I’ll take this on board 👌🏻

Perfect advice as usual joel thanks so much for sharing 🐸💚🐸

Yet another really helpful video, I would love frogs / tadpoles,but I do have newts and the occasional heron. Here’s hoping, my pond it such a pleasure.✅👍

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hey Helen, thank you so much :) I know a fair few people that have two ponds and one seems to be "taken" by the newts and the other by the frogs... got space for two? ha! But yes, ponds usually support one or the other and of course once breeding has finished they usually disperse into other areas of the garden for hunting etc. I really appreciate your support, best wishes - Joel

It’s just so easy to buy a filter for the tap water, works wonders

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

2 ай бұрын

Yes, absolutely - but the algae does love warm water and of course high nutrient, so this is more about maintaining it. Good advice re the initial filling though :) Best wishes, Joel

Hello Joe. Great advice. I use barley straw combined with physically removing it. I leave the weed on the side of the pond. After a day or so, it goes in my compo bin.

Great to know. I am just wondering about sun versus shade. You always say it is best to build a pond in the sun. Is the reason so that the other "good" plants are in the sun, otherwise, wouldn't it be better just building it in the shade (not under a tree) or maybe half sun and half shade like you said in the video? Thanks for all the good info.

Hi mate I've just subscribed to your channel great video 👍👍👍👍

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

5 күн бұрын

Thank you - I really appreciate it - glad you enjoyed it, if you're in the Westcliff I know in the UK, hope you had a great long weekend too. Best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

I learnt alot I have blanket weed. Now I know how to look after my pond. Thankyou.

You just answered my question in your video! Thanks Joe

Thanks Joel. Great video as usual. Keep them coming 👍👍

That pond looks similar to mine, including the algae, I have a bog garden on one end too. I think it's time to get on cleaning my pond, I know I know, I said that last yr too. Getting really serious now, unfortunately I'd bet there's a good 10 inches of sludge by now 🙄

This was such a helpful video, we installed a small wildlife pond in our garden last year and have had algae. This has made us much less concerned, and aware that we just need to manage it. Thank you!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. So glad that this was helpful to you. Welcome to the channel, we have such a wonderful community here. Best wishes, Joel

Just catching up Joels.. great video and its reminded me that i must invest in a water butt. The Jackdaws in the video have just reminded me that about 3 weeks ago I was out and about and saw a pied Jackdaw. Beautiful bird and many years since i last saw one. Anyway, hope you are well Joels and love to all the family 🙂

Thank you. 😊

Great vid, thanks. Any tips on getting rid of duckweed.

Hi Joel great video I have blanket weed in my pond it seems to have rapped itself around the brooklime. To get it out do i remove the brooklime as well.

What an inspiring young man, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you both chatting Joel. Have subscribed to Thomas's channel,and can't wait to start watching it. He and you are so right, that slowing down and just watching is so much better than chasing around from place to place, usually missing so much in the bargain. Thanks both for a very entertaining watch this afternoon.💚😊

maybe a stupid question. If you have a lake/pond nearby, it would help to take a couple of buckets full of water from there and put it in your own pond, if you don't have the opportunity to fill it with rainwater, if so there is something you have to be aware of? I love your channel, and thank you for all your answers so fare

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi there Louise, so sorry for the delay in acknowledging you but there are so many comments to keep up with, but I'm determined everyone is responded to :) It's not usually good to transfer water from ponds or lakes, only because of the potential diseases and transferring of non-natives that may have escaped. Chlorine will dissipate after a few days and of course when I am making large ponds on client sites it's not always viable to use rain from water butts - you can always leave the water in buckets for a few days until the chlorine/chemicals disappear if you are concerned of course. I hope this is helpful, and I really appreciate your support and encouragement, it makes a difference :) Best wishes, Joel

Fantastic advice thank you Joel. I wish I knew this method a few years ago. We had our garden landscaped last year and the pond upgraded to a 'deluxe suite' for our visitors. Happy to say we have 7 newts so far. I've just had a little clean up, it's not to bad thankfully, haven't removed all of the weed as the newts were hiding it it 😊

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome Elaine :) So glad that this was helpful and even more pleased you have seven newts already! Thanks ever so much for your support, I really appreciate it. Hope you find the channel helpful, we have a great little community here - best wishes, Joel

Thank you for doing this! If I have quite alot of this in my pond now (zone 5, Latvia), but I dont mind it and Id love to leave it for my frogs, should I worry about it taking over too much?

could you please link the video of this specific pond build, cant find it on the channel, thanks

Do you recomend barley straw bales for larger commercial fisheries?

Great info as always Joel. I have a little gathering in mine at the moment , and funnily enough , I was leaving it in preparation for when my frogspawn hatches in case it was useful as a food source and some cover. You’ve just backed up my thoughts 😊👍🏻

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hello - so sorry for the delay in keeping up with everyone, but this is fantastic to hear. Can't wait to see it all. Best wishes, as always - Joel

@vikinggardencreations

Жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton that’s ok mate, I know you’re a busy chap . I’ll keep you posted 😊

HI Joe, I've been experiencing problems with sludge and planket weed. I have a pump that works very hard for me; however I have 8 "goldfish", some of which are very large, so large they're almost look like Koi! There's also some tadpoles that seem to have "nested" in the sludge, so I'm reluctant to remove it. Sadly my neighbour has many trees that not only affect my light and also the fall x Any advice? Thanks for all you do.

Hey Joel, I don't have a problem with blanket weed but after taking out the old oxygenator plant and replacing it with a slender club rush, my barrel pond is less murky as it was a month or two ago but not as clear as last year, also no reassuring bubbles appearing on the surface when the sun shines onto it, is there another oxygenator plant you'd recommend? Or something else I should do? Many thanks in advance!

For some reason I've always mistaken blanket weed for duck weed. I've been meaning to make a pond, but don't have much room, and not sure if a pre formed pool with shelves is better?

Hi Joel. I keep hearing about leaving leaves etc close to the pond, after removal, so that critters can crawl back in. However, am I correct that dragonfly larvae will simply die...they can't crawl back because they can't breathe out of the water?

Hi there! Toronto Canada and new to your channel… herd the conservative parks add a kind of fish (working fish not edible) and they eat weeds and scavenge all kinds of things. Wonder if you know what they are?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi Maria, welcome to the channel :) Sorry for the delay in responding. I'm in the UK and I know that Grass Carp prefer to eat softer weeds and will help control plants such as duck weed and blanket weed and other invasive plants. I don't put fish in the ponds I create but medium to larger ponds can take a few SMALL native fish. It might be Grass Carp or similar that they have used in the conservation parks etc. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

@mariagillinson8527

Жыл бұрын

Thank you yes that helps.

I’m in the middle of doing a wildlife pond and have a little pre formed pond, mostly wanting to attract frogs, Currently have put some gravel on the bottom with a lilly and some marginal plants and oxygenation plants but just unsure if that’s all I need to do and what stops natural ponds going stagnant without filters etc ?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi there Myles - I'll be doing another video on the ponds and maintenance etc and what problems you might face but you are right, the plants you have in there are perfect so that you do not need artificial pumps or filters etc. When you see Koi ponds, they usually involve expensive set-ups to ensure the water is kept clear and this is because of the excess of nutrients added to the water by the fish. Natural ponds will often have native fish that get there via eggs on bird's feet etc, they will also usually dry out to an extent in summer but life still manages to hang on. It's the plants and surface cover that is important in keeping them clean. Most pond plants are waking up at the moment and they'll get to work doing what they do best real soon. I hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

@mylescheetham2614

Жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you ;)

great video thanks! I still worry that creatures won't be able to get out of the weed once you place it on the bank. My pond is 3 years old and finally cleared to crystal water this year. We put dried lavender stalks in. Could be coincidence. Anyone else tried this?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

7 ай бұрын

Hi Alison, I remember someone saying about this on GQT a few years back, I've not tried it myself but I believe that it can help combat growth of algal blooms, when used with barley straw, but not actually get rid of it once it's there, but keep me updated on your experience as it sounds viable :) when taking the blanket weed out it's always recommended to have a good check through and if seeing a fair few creatures in it then do keep rinsing it in the pond water and ensure it's not to clumped together of course, I usually wash mine through in a bucket of the same water as you can see them escaping. Hope this helps, and so glad you enjoyed the video - welcome to the channel! Best wishes, Joel

Thanks so much for the video. I have a lot of blanketweed most likely due to our high pH water that tests around 8.5-9. Can I add distilled white vinegar to lower the pH and hopefully slow the growth of this string algae? I don't mind it except for having to replace the two foam prefilters every day or two. My pond is 300 gallons and running 2 submersible pumps at 600 gph each so lots of flow and filtration and water is crystal clear. Thanks

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

3 ай бұрын

Hi there Dale, glad that the video was helpful. With the wildlife ponds I make there's no need for filtration or pumps due to the native plant set up and coverage with floating leaved plants. So I'm not too sure re vinegar, but do you have fish in the pond currently that's adding to the nutrient level at all or that you're just in a high PH area? Thank you, Joel

@dalehrncirik976

3 ай бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton hi Joel, I have shubunkin goldfish but don't feed them often because it's winter and water temperature is often under 50 degrees F. The pond is a Rubbermaid stock tank and this time of year, the surface coverage is low because of winter dieback. We have hard water here so the pH is typically over 7 out of the faucet but the pond pH tends to be higher. I've tried adding distilled white vinegar before with unlasting luck. I also salt my pond to about 900 ppm TDS and it's about 250 ppm total dissolved solids out of the tap...I do this to mainly eliminate green water algae and it's also a therapeutic level for the fish. Thanks for your help and advice.

Will the components of tap water(chlorine, nitrates and phosphates) break down and disperse over time? Also, do you guys ship internationally? Thanks!!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Ай бұрын

Hi there! We can't ship internationally at the moment but it is planned, although that doesn't help you right now, I appreciate! Yes, the chlorine etc will dissipate in a week or so if left, on some of the larger ponds I install it's impossible to fill them sufficiently via water-butts so a hose/tap is needed for these. They do clear and of course the right oxygenators and the right surface coverage helps keep the pond cool and minimises the blanket weed. It will appear in shallower areas where the water is warmer of course, but it's much easier controlling it from the edge! Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

@Jimmyandtony

Ай бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel!

my pond is small, but its not under a tree, if any leaves blow into it, I get them out straight away. It gets sun for half the day

How do I prevent in a small pond that as a filter and fish?

Can‘t Little Fisch also eat this blancet weed?Is this Even a Good idea to introduce fishes in a Little Pond?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Жыл бұрын

Hi there, no doubt they do enjoy it and it would be a good way to help keep the pond clean, however fish do add excess nutrient to ponds and that can also encourage blanket weed and make the pond murky. This is why you see such expensive filtration systems/pumps in prize Koi ponds. If you wanted to put small native fish in a pond they should be ok, but they must be small and native :) I hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

Duckweed is a nightmare. Can’t get rid of it.

Also, its all stuck to the sides and does not want to come of

Throw some mussels in there