A garden needs some sort of water feature to make it perfect. In this article, I share how I am using Barley Straw Treatments in my small pond to help control algae.
Barley Straw Video
When I first saw these at Menards I thought… NO WAY! Hard to believe by following a simple regiment these naturally grown bales can help keep your pond algea free. Check out this video I put together featuring my small Koi garden pond I have in my 20′ Geodesic Bio-Dome.
This video is featured on my Bren Haas YouTube Channel. If you are a YouTube subscriber I hope you will subscribe to my channel @brenhaas so you get updates when my new videos are available. Most of my videos are in 4K so they are perfect for large screen viewing.
The Barley Straw
I found this great article on Penn State about Barley Straw for Algae Control. The pond guy says that using barley dates back 100’s of years ago to acre farm ponds in Europe.
Interested in trying some in your pond? I found mine at Menards but you can also order them on Amazon.
In The Pond
Here are a few of my photos taken during this video update featuring the pond located in the 20′ geodesic biodome greenhouse garden
It is important to note that the barley will not clear up existing algae. Once the pond is clean you will want to add the bale. As the bale gets oxygen and sunlight it will break down. A natural chemical in the barley PREVENTS algae growth.
More Pond Blog Posts
It has been a fun learning experience having a 3’x5′ small pond in my dome greenhouse for the koi fish. Not only is the water awesome to use on my plants but it is super relaxing to enjoy. Below are a few more post about the pond in the geodesic bio dome I grow in.
Geodesic Dome Pond November Update
Royal Hawaiian® Hawaiian Punch Elephant’s Ear This year’s mild weather in Ohio is evident in the thriving geodesic dome. In this post, I’m sharing my small pond that’s home to a variety of fish, including koi, along with several aquatic plants. Discover my personal tips and information for year-round growth in this blog post, which includes a video. Geodesic Bio Dome Pond Update This November marks my first year experiencing such a joyful pond life. There are several factors contributing to the pond’s success, and I look forward to sharing all the details in the video below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at the end of this blog post. The vibrant colors of the koi swimming gracefully through the water bring a sense of tranquility and wonder. The aquatic plants, thriving with lush greenery, create a beautiful and balanced ecosystem that supports the health and happiness of the fish. I’ve learned a lot about maintaining the right water temperature and quality, which is crucial for the well-being of the pond’s inhabitants. The geodesic dome provides excellent insulation, protecting the pond from the harshest weather conditions and allowing the ecosystem to flourish even as temperatures drop. In the video, I’ll also share some insights on the types of plants and their benefits, as well as tips on how to keep algae growth in check without disturbing the natural balance. I’m excited to take you on this journey of discovery and hope that my experiences inspire you to create your own thriving aquatic haven. Happy ponding! The vlog featured above comes from my Bren Haas YouTube Channel. When you view the video on my website, you’ll enjoy it without any ads, so I hope you find it enjoyable! Water Plants Mentioned In the video feature I mention the Water Hyasith , Water Lettuce and a new Hawaiian Punch Elephant Ear that is growing in the pond. This year, I introduced the Royal Hawaiian Punch Elephant Ear to my garden. I planted the bulb on the upper tier of the pond shelf, and it’s thriving in that spot. The red stem and veins in this plant are beautiful addition to the pond plant collection. Did you see my Dome After Winter Solstice VLOG post? Big surprise on how well the water plants are doing this year. https://brenhaas.com/dome-after-winter-solstice/ Let’s Connect Finally, I would love for you to leave a comment on this blog post to let me know if you appreciate the content. I welcome questions and suggestions for what you’d like to see in my next video, so please feel free to share! Happy Autumn Gardening,
Etsy Purchase Water Plant Review
In this post I share about my experience with Etsy / Meadow Road Nursery Shop. Find video featuring the healthy water plants I received during a Midwest heat wave.
How To Add New Water Lettuce Plant
In this post I share a short video featuring a water lettuce plant review. See how the plant is doing in my dome greenhouse koi pond. Super easy steps on how to ensure the plant does well with fish.
Thank you for stopping by my blog today!
Let’s Connect
I’d love to hear from you and what you think about using natural solutions in a pond such as the barley straw. IF you have a question or would like to add to my thoughts on Barley Bales please get in touch with me. Be sure to comment on this blog post or reach out to me on my contact page featured on this website.
Happy Gardening,
4 Comments on “Controlling Algae with Barley Straw”
Hey Pat – thank you for stopping by my site. The use of the barley bales featured in this post have been a success. I switch them out every 6 months. You will want to read the package to make sure you have the correct amount of barley bales in your pond. My dome pond is only about 5’x 3′ and 1 bales do the trick. I hope this helps! Soon I will put an update video on my website so be sure to follow for details.
I got two large ponds. I heard barely was a myth. What did you find out?
You got this… I need to share more about blogging. It really can be a fun experience. I know over the past few months I’ve really enjoyed documenting and sharing my experiences with others.
The dome is amazing. A playground I would love too. A great, gardening video. Not much on my blog yet. I am trying to do it.