Fuzzy green algae

Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
90
Reaction score
111
Location
SE Wisconsin
Hardiness Zone
5
Country
United States
So, I am going to try to do some of the opening of my pond this year. Just starting as the weather permits. I think I am okay with the mechanical and chemical, not so much on the cleanout. My plants all sit in pots in the water. There is a lot of last years dead growth that needs to be trimmed off. Can the plants sit out in the pot in the air for several days? Also there is green fuzzy algsr on all the rocks. Should I power wash all of this off?

Here is a pic
 

Attachments

  • 20200325_183004.jpg
    20200325_183004.jpg
    105.7 KB · Views: 152
  • 20200325_182955.jpg
    20200325_182955.jpg
    188.3 KB · Views: 197
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
2,517
Reaction score
2,999
Hardiness Zone
7b
I would trim off the dead growth and bide your time. Do you have fish? If so, I would just wait and let spring do its thing. Every year, before the plants really start growing, the pond begins to wake up. The fish graze around more and poop more. The algae grows to help process the waste. I wouldn't pressure wash the fuzzy algae. It serves a purpose and it's really pretty!
 
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
90
Reaction score
111
Location
SE Wisconsin
Hardiness Zone
5
Country
United States
Thanks everyone. I have attached pics. Some plants are marginal, though most are in pots
 

Attachments

  • 1988F586-40B6-488C-9B3B-A6F3960E3302.jpeg
    1988F586-40B6-488C-9B3B-A6F3960E3302.jpeg
    270.6 KB · Views: 144
  • 2F4D4ABD-C3F3-46C6-93DF-37E18E98FDAE.jpeg
    2F4D4ABD-C3F3-46C6-93DF-37E18E98FDAE.jpeg
    171.1 KB · Views: 131
  • E3F0E1E9-78E2-4AFC-A055-4250B9948E8D.jpeg
    E3F0E1E9-78E2-4AFC-A055-4250B9948E8D.jpeg
    290 KB · Views: 156
  • E1CEE42C-9527-4CC3-A6D9-629BEDA5DB46.jpeg
    E1CEE42C-9527-4CC3-A6D9-629BEDA5DB46.jpeg
    353.5 KB · Views: 163
  • 19474846-C126-4AF3-AE8C-8B6D63ADAEFD.jpeg
    19474846-C126-4AF3-AE8C-8B6D63ADAEFD.jpeg
    285.7 KB · Views: 122
  • B601956C-1AD8-44EC-8271-22651963E10C.jpeg
    B601956C-1AD8-44EC-8271-22651963E10C.jpeg
    380.1 KB · Views: 129
  • 8EA1AAB8-A5E0-43BD-BF14-2CF7A4081A0D.jpeg
    8EA1AAB8-A5E0-43BD-BF14-2CF7A4081A0D.jpeg
    244 KB · Views: 141
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
90
Reaction score
111
Location
SE Wisconsin
Hardiness Zone
5
Country
United States
I am guessing that I should cut off anything that looks dead, but if I am supposed to cut the plant all the way down, I don’t know that. Also the Lily’s down in the bottom of the pond look nasty, do I just set them back upright and see what happens?
 
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
2,517
Reaction score
2,999
Hardiness Zone
7b
Do you have a fine mesh skimmer net you can use to get the leaves and other debris out? You could even grab it out by hand and put in a bucket, then use as mulch or compost in the garden. All that decaying matter is contributing to the waste ("nutrients") feeding the algae. I'm not an expert on the plants and what or how much to cut. I was afraid to cut too much off, myself! @addy1 ? @Lisak1 ?
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,070
Reaction score
13,394
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
Anything that looks dead can be cut right down to just an inch or two above the root ball. Some of my reeds and grasses I just yank them out - the dead stuff pulls out pretty easily.

As for the lilies, I would generally suggest cutting those back in the fall, but it's not a super big deal. You'll probably find it's basically mush by this point, so you can either just leave it or try to scoop it out. Anything else that's dead in the bottom should come out, either with a net or get in there with your hands and scoop it out. The fun part of ponding!
 
Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
13,070
Reaction score
13,394
Location
Northern IL
Showcase(s):
1
By the way, all your marginals are reeds or rushes of one type or another. The one that's kind of curly is a corkscrew rush. The others are harder to identify at this point, but probably blue rush if I had to guess without seeing it green and growing.
 

addy1

water gardener / gold fish and shubunkins
Moderator
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
44,338
Reaction score
29,089
Location
Frederick, Maryland
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
I chop all down in the fall, anything missed gets hacked in the spring. The lilies are groomed hard in the fall. Removing leaves, old flowers etc and any tubers that look dead or are just too big.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
30,780
Messages
508,557
Members
13,042
Latest member
lucaryan

Latest Threads

Top