By Ashley Bautista
Gardeners have been told to turn their attentions to ponds in July which may be looking a little worse for wear. As the temperatures are rising and the daylight hours are longer, it鈥檚 time to think about giving your garden pond a good wash for the sake of any wildlife who may rely on this during the summer, and even if you have any fish inside. Throughout the months, an accumulation of pondweed and algae can appear, overtaking the space and becoming quite a disturbance. For the month of July, Gardeners鈥 World has released a list of important tasks to complete, one of them including 鈥渟coop up any floating pondweed and algae from pools and water features鈥. As explained by the RHS , there are various types of algae which grow in ponds and lakes. Due to their colour, they can turn the water green, as well as reduce oxygen levels in the water, affecting the overall growth of pond plants. Algae have to be removed from swimming pools because not only do they turn the water green, but they can also make it unsanitary, leading to bacterial growth. It鈥檚 also not recommended nor safe to swim in it as it could cause skin irritation, as explained by SPA Marvel . Gardeners鈥 World revealed different ways to remove algae safely , and by adding barley straw, a natural method, it can also control its growth. Barley straws work effectively as they鈥檙e a natural and non-toxic alternative to other harsh chemicals. Even better, it鈥檚 safe for surrounding plants, fish and other wildlife. For optimal use, the site recommends using bales or loose straw in the pond. However, it鈥檚 a must for gardeners to replace this once it has become black to ensure its effectiveness. One of the downsides of using barley straws is that excessive use can be dangerous for the fish and could even kill them. Although it works well against algae, it doesn鈥檛 work against stronger weeds such as pondweed. If you have a large pond, it鈥檚 best to hire a professional weed control company. Alternatively, scoop out the pondweed and the algae by using a net or rake. To maintain a clean garden pond, it鈥檚 essential to watch out for these areas while completing other cleaning tasks.