Allotments 4 All

We have a problem that there is no running water on site so the troughs get full of green algae unless it is siphoned out regularly.

At a garden centre recently I saw this product that you put in water butts to get rid of the slime http://www.evengreener.com/Shop/Water_Butt_Accessories/REFR500X_Refresh_Liquid_.html

Has anyone used it, and does it work? Also it says it is non toxic, but there wasnt any info on the bottle about what it actually is.

Surely covering them would solve the problem.  ;D

An easy way to get rid of green algae is to cover the water containers so you cut off the light.

Throw a bundle of barley straw in the trough. It's widely used to control algae in fish ponds.

I have used a similar product in my pond and it works extremely well - but Barley Straw can be effective too.

Hi,
Yes I have used this to some success but the idea of barley straw is more to my liking as then you use what nature has provided us with, a natural deterrent to what none of us want. Slime
Thanks for the tip on this and bye bye to unwanted products.

tad of jayes fluid?

I'm wondering what I could use as a lid to block the light. It would have to be attached in some way and easily held open.. or it will be a hassle for other people. I tried a bit of polycarbonate to stop grass clippings going in, but people kept taking it off.

Barley straw sounds good, though I think people might see it in there and think it was another bit of debris and fish it out!

I was thinking of trying scaffold netting folded over a couple of times and weighed down around the edges with filled up milk bottles.

I'm sure i have seen my plot neighbour using bleach.

Neil

I covered mine with some long bits of cardboard held down with a few bits of wood - not particularly attractive but hopefully effective  :D

pond snails to eat it? Get those they use in fish tanks.

I have a cover on mine, it has been there 10 years and no slime.

White vinegar will remove it and diluted it is safer than a lot of chemicals.

A few goldfish should do the trick and they'll love the deep water, or else a few grains of potassium permangonate (still available on the web)should keep any unwanted vegetation at bay.