Algae growth in a water pond is truly a good source of problem for garden owners. And although there are many ways to fight algae, not all can be safe. A good option would be the use of barley straw.

If you see some algae beginning to grow in your pond, do not panic. Algae are just but a normal part of every water system in existence. However, if it is not taken care if immediately, it might be the cause of the slow death of everything in the pond. Fortunately, algaecides and other solutions are now being sold in the market. One of them is barley straw which is not actually an algaecide so you might wonder how it works.

Algaecides can be a good option since they totally eliminate the algae in your pond. On the other hand, they can be harmful to the living things in the water. Most especially if you have chosen the chemical-based ones which are deadlier. The non-chemical based algaecides are safe but may require you to spend more.

Barley straw is known to be an element of some food like cereals and malt. But it is not just for food, it is also good for ponds and other water features since it releases some component that prevents algae from developing. This has not been approved by the EPA to be used as a pesticide yet it is now being done by some pond owners in England. Not only it is more affordable than algaecides, it is also very safe for the fish and aquatic plants in the pond.

Researches done in UK and in the US show that the results of barley straw use in controlling pond algae are inconsistent that is why it is still not recommended by experts to be used. But since it is naturally safe, it is not prohibited to be used although not approved yet. It is not actually an algaecide because it does not have the trait of killing algae. It only controls their growth.
Barley straw works well when it is made to float in the water. For best results, it is the best to put it to the area where there is flowing water. This makes the compounds released to flow freely in the water preventing new algae to grow.

Aside from barley, there are other straws that are being used in the England to take care of the algae issues they have. Oil, seed, linseed and wheat are among them. These materials are used in some regions in England and are quite effective. But if compared to barley, these materials are not as effective as barley.

It is essential to check on the status of barley straws in your pond every four to six months because they decompose in this period of time. In colder regions, they make decompose faster so it is recommended that you check on them in three to four months. In warmer areas, four to six months is just fine