Barley Straw Pond Algae Treatment

As is true of everything in the world, prevention is the best form of control. With lake weeds and pond scum, that usually means increasing the waters depth, and balancing fertility to provide algae bloom to color the water and keep sunlight from reaching the bottom. What if you inherit the problem, and don't want to use chemicals?

Pond scum is a major source of irritation to pond and lake owners, especially those who like to practice green pond and lake care. There is a treatment that may help satisfy both needs, that is barley straw. There is some pretty convincing evidence that barley straw can be an effective treatment for pond scum, but there are a few precautions.

How barley straw works

To be quite honest, no one is certain exactly how it works. It is thought that the decomposing barley straw releases a chemical which inhibits the growth of filamentous algae, or pond scum as it is sometimes called.

How to apply barley straw

Amount of barley straw to use

If pond scum is a persistent problem, and I can't imagine anyone would be reading this if it were not, 100, to 250 pounds of barley straw per surface acres should be used. A surface acre, is a regular acre, which is 43,560 square feet. The numbers do not have to be exact, just as close as possible will do.

How to prepare barley straw

Separate the barley into equal units, and place it in weighted mesh bags, rolls of hardware cloth, or cages, and sink them around the pond. A string or rope tied to the bags and a stake will help in future retrieval efforts. 50 pound onion sacks work well, you can put about 6 to 8 pounds of barley straw in an onion bag.

Barley treatment notes

• Barley straw as an algaecide works only in oxygenated water. This works best close to the surface, in water under 3 feet in depth where the water is constantly being agitated by wind.
• Barley straw is a preventative only. It will not kill existing pond scum.
• Two applications may be needed.
• As with most algae treatments, if the water is muddy, it will be less effective.

Barley treatment concerns

• Barley treatment may kill plankton. This can be a problem if the water is too clear, the food chain can be interrupted. This could also cause an eventual increase in filamentous algae. See also: Lake Management | Pond Algae Pond Scum
• Barley treatment may encourage unwanted vegetative growth as a result of increased water clarity and added fertility due to decomposition. See also: Lake Management Lake Weed Control Water Depth Secchi Depth

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