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Green unsightly pond due to algae having themselves a good time?
We’ve got you covered!
Introducing POND STRAW, our fully compostable pond pouch made from Barley Straw - a 100% natural and environmentally safe way to control your pond algae.
Why Barley Straw?
We need algae to produce oxygen, but it needs to be kept in check (a heavy load of algae will eventually starve the water of oxygen). There's no better, natural and environmentally kind way of doing this than with our fully compostable Barley Straw pouch. But why's it so good?
Environmentally Friendly
A fully compostable bag! Once finished, put it straight on your compost or garden waste.
Nothing but Barley Straw, lovingly encased in a pouch made from potato starch!
Chemical Free
Absolutely no toxic chemicals whatsoever, so your fish are in safe hands.
Barley Straw is a natural algistat (something that doesn’t kill algae, but does prevent its action). The exact way barley straw stops algae growth isn’t completely understood. The chemicals released by the rotting straw somehow inhibit the reproductive processes. We think it’s very clever!
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This is a preventative measure not a cure. It doesn’t kill algae dead in it's tracks, but inhibits it from growing.
How does it stop algae?
How To Use Pond Straw Pouches
Submerge your pouch in the water around the edge of your pond (if you only have a small pond and can reach the pouch, you can place a single sack in the centre.) Ideally, the best time to do this is early spring before too much hot sun starts to bloom the algae.
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The straw will be effective for 4 to 6 months, so you may need to renew it partway through the season.
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After 3 months, place an additional pouch in your pond - as it takes time for the natural chemicals to release from the straw.
3 months later, remove the first pouch and pop another one in, so you’ll always have 2 pouches in your pond. You can put the discarded one in your compost or garden waste bin.
How much do I need?
To find out how much Pond Straw to use, you'll need to calculate the squared surface area of your pond as a guide. You'll need the following amount of Pond Straw (assuming that a pouch weight is approx. 50g):
Pond Size - 6m
Single Pouch
Pond Size - 12m
Double Pouch
Pond Size - 18m
Triple Pouch
Helpful Tips
Tie to Side – Secure the sacks to the side of the pond for easy retrieval. ​
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If you have a Pump - Place it nearby so that water moves through the pouch.
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Storage - Make sure you keep extra pouches in a clean dark place out of direct sunlight.
Our ethics
We're a family-run business with strong beliefs in using natural materials to produce high-quality products that do the job as nature intended. But also to then return to basic elements leaving no trace behind.
The use of Barley straw to clean ponds dates back generations but became less popular with the introduction of chemical solutions. Luckily for us (the planet and your pond) the introduction of stricter regulations has meant a return to more natural solutions.
Most of the pouches used today are made of nylon netting which holds the straw in place. They have to be disposed of in the domestic waste which really defeats the object of using an environmentally friendly product to clear green water in your pond.
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Our biodegradable, perforated bag has been made especially for ponds and is made from Potato Starch that will naturally decompose on your compost heap, meaning Barley Straw is now a truly environmentally friendly way to reduce algae in your pond.