For barley straw as an algae control, what is the recommended placement for ponds of one acre or less?

• A. Scatter barley straw across entire pond surface
• B. Place one or two bales of barley straw staked near water inlet for pond one acre or less
• C. Use barley straw only in winter
• D. Do not use barley straw

Answer: (B)

Barley straw helps control algae by slowly decomposing and releasing compounds into the water as it sits in the system. For a pond that is one acre or smaller, placing one or two bales near the water inlet uses the moving water to distribute those compounds throughout the pond as it flows. This setup is practical, cost-efficient, and avoids having a loose mat of straw covering the entire surface, which can be messy and less effective. It targets the whole pond through circulation, giving algae a chance to be suppressed where the water moves most. Using barley straw only in winter misses the period when algae commonly bloom and doesn’t take advantage of the straw’s effect during warmer months. Scattering straw across the surface can be less reliable and harder to manage, and not using barley straw at all for algae control in appropriate conditions misses the intended benefit.