How Do You Use Barley Straw To Keep Ponds Clean?
The use of barley straw to keep ponds clean is a practice that dates back to the Middle Ages. Barley prevents the growth of algae that leaves the pond water murky and devoid of the nutrients that fish and aquatic plants need to survive. Barley straw is also recommended by the Institute for Arable Crops Research in England as an effective algae control method. Barley straw works by releasing enzymes and humic acid as it decays that make the pond water an inhospitable environment for algae. Barley straw enzymes, however, are harmless to plants and fish. There are two primary methods for keeping a pond clean using barley straw. One will allow you to keep your straw treatment invisible while the other allows for a larger bag of straw and thus a more effective treatment. Fill a small mesh or burlap bag loosely with barley straw. It is vital that the bag is made of a breathable material that will allow water to pass through the straw. Place the bag of barley straw inside of a pond filter or
