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Garden State Pumpkins

Have a small pond on the property. The problem is I cannot get Barley straw....I can order 2 pounds for 20 bucks....but what kills me I can order a 45 lb bail for 16 bucks....shipping it to NJ is the killer...LOL.....can I buy these seeds and grow it myself....I'm worried cause they say the hay doesn't work must be straw...being an urban gardener I'm not sure I would know the difference...Thanks for any help you can give. Chuck

3/2/2008 5:13:00 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Chuck
If you grow the barley, you will loose the summer. I have access to barlet straw here, but I use the barley pada, and get the shipped to me.
I have a 3000 gallon pond and use 2 pads, which last about 4 months, they claim a year but I usually change them at the end of August. seems to really help the algae bloom that gets worse as the water heats up.
Anyway here the link to the place I get mine

http://www.letmeoutdoors.com/metal/pondbarley.html

Eddy

3/2/2008 6:17:54 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Chuck,

I can get you barley seed. The question is....WHY?

http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0012.html

Barley doesn't work to control all types of filamentous algae. If the type you have can be controlled with Barley mats then Eddy's recommendation sounds great.

If it doesn't work for you then consider a packaged microbial pond cleaner.

http://www.planthealthcare.com/HT/Aquatic/PondSaver

3/2/2008 11:29:03 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks guys....Steve you bring up a good point...I used the Barley straw a few years back and had no Algae problem...Last year I started to get a string style algae that makes it impossible for the kids to fish without clearing the hook off every cast...thought maybe I try the barley straw again....I have seen a "distilled Barley" straw treatment that I will try at "iceout".....else it's back to raking it out every other month...LOL....Have a great time at Niagara...Wish I could be there with ya....

3/3/2008 12:00:53 PM