Pond Algae & Weed Control
Pond Care Products - Pond Conditioners
Koenders Windmill Pond Aeration Systems are ideal for maintaining a clean and healthy pond and ensuring that an abundance of weeds and algae do not grow in your pond.
However, if you find yourself already dealing with a severe issue of pond algae and/or weeds you may want to consider both our Windmill Aeration System and Pond Conditioner. These specially formulated non-toxic pond conditioners have been developed by leading environmentalists and pond treatment professionals to ensure the health of your pond and together with windmill aeration reduces the risks of pond algae growth in your pond. Visit Pond Conditioner for more detailed information.
Here are some of the algae and weeds that Pond Conditioners combined with aeration can help prevent.
For information on treating pond algae, and ordering pond conditioners, please visit Pond Conditioner.
Algae Identification
Muskgrass
Commonly referred to as Chara - it has plant like features but is indeed a form of algae. Chara grows mostly in the shallow areas of a pond where the nutrient levels from soil runoff is higher. It has a course texture and strong, musky odor when you pull it out of the water.
Algae (Filamentous)
This form of algae is also called pond scum, it can form a dense carpet like green brown cover on the water's surface and if not treated will eventually cover the total surface of the pond.
Algae (Planktonic)
Also known as 'blue-green' algae, in low levels is actually quite healthy for your pond and fish will feed on its by product (zoo plankton) - too much if this algae will give a pond a 'pea-soup' appearance and left untreated, often causes massive fish kill for it depletes all the oxygen in the pond.
Listed below are the many weeds that are found in ponds that left untreated can also cause a pond or lake to become quite unhealthy along with everything living in it.
Weed Identification
American Pondweed (Potamogeton americanus)
This type of weed floats above the waters surface in the form of oval shapes leaves. Its seeds rapidly spread itself and if untreated can cover a whole pond and prevent sunlight from reaching the plants that with its sunlight can generate the necessary oxygen for the health of the pond and its living wildlife.
Fragrant Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)
A few of these Water lilies in your pond can look very nice and they are even sold in some areas as water plants. The problem is that they grow very fast and if left unmanaged can cover your whole pond in no time.
Cattail (Typha)
The Cattail is another well known water plant and are considered a pretty water plant by many. The stems are long and slender. The seeds appear in late summer or early fall and form dense "sausage" like flowers on the top of the stems. They can grow very fast and need to be managed appropriately to avoid the spread of them.
Watershield (Brasenia schreberi)
This plant has roots along with floating round shaped leaves. They are bright green on top with a purplish red underside, pink flowers grow on a long stalk above the water. They are sometimes referred to as snot grass because they tend to have slimy roots and leaves.
Duckweed (Lemna minor)
This is a very common floating plant which reproduces extremely quickly in a pond by splitting itself in two. People often mix Duckweed up algae. It's a small floating leave with a root that hangs below the surface. Over time the pond starts to look like the green of a golf course. Duckweed has a tendency to spread from pond to pond via waterfowl or other wildlife.
Bladderwort (Utricularia)
This is a floating plant that is under the water. It is recognized by its small pockets that are used to trap small aquatic species and use these nutrients to grow. Their flowers are small, yellow and grow above the water.
Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)
This weed lives under the water as well and has slender stems and feather-like leaves. It can be distinquished by the cluster of leaves at the end of the main stalk. Coontail is a weed that is sold as an aquarium plant under the name "hornwort" and is believed to be spread by dumping aquariums into water systems, and its seed germinates.
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
This weed is an exotic species of plant again thought to be spread by the aquarium industry. Its leaves are feather-like and have long stalks of reddish flowers that extend above the water. It can spread in a water system quite quickly and even pieces of the plant can grow roots and develop into a whole new plant. If not treated the water can become unusable.
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Hydrilla is another underwater plant with long, stems that can branch out and grow into large dense carpets on the surface of the pond. This weed grows small white flowers in the hotter summer months and is common in warmer climates like Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Watermeal (Wolffia columbiana)
Watermeal is a weed that almost has the same feel as tiny grains of sand or cornmeal. It is the smallest and toughest weed to control and it can be dark to light green in color. This tiny plant can reproduce very fast and cover your pond in little time by splitting.
Creeping Water Primrose (Ludwigia palustris)
This weed grows along the shore in the more shallow marshy areas and ditches. The leaves vary in color, from green to reddish-purple.
Adequate oxygen levels can greatly improve the risks of these forms of algae from growing in your pond. Visit Pond Conditioner for more information on environmentally friendly ways to deal with these pond algae problems.