Pond pondering

Something green and ghastly has taken hold of a friend’s pond – and Toby has been called in to help grapple with it

- Toby Buckland

I’VE got a mate called Gary whose pond is so big, Dame Ellen MacArthur could use it for practice and there would still be room for a pedalo! It’s just a shame about the green algae that’s currently doing a good impression of a mini Sargasso Sea.

The ‘green gunk’ was expected after the giant pond liner was replaced as, with the flowering marginals thinned and the shade of water lilies reduced, conditions were perfect for blanket weed to burgeon. Overnight, the double trouble of excess nitrogen and rising water temperature cast its spell, turning the once crystal-clear lagoon into a green witch’s brew.

“Crystal-clear water turned into a witch’s brew”