This field bordering our gardens has, for the last two years, been used to plant a crop for the farmer's cows.
Up until then there were different crops but this field was used mainly for grazing. It could be beautiful in spring when it was covered with dandelions, followed by the clocks - a real problem for our garden though when it came to weeding.
It was also followed by the cows. I've no problem with cows but they love to reach over and eat our shrubs and trees that are planted along our boundary with the hope of having a beautiful hedge to keep out the easterly winds and extra wildlife habitat. So I am happy that we have had a two year reprise and the hedge is much more established.
What is this crop?
It is barley. The huge bales are still lying on the field in the sun and look great. There is also a lot of loose barley that the machines haven't managed to pick up.
Why am I telling you this?
Simple.
Barley laying around in loose clumps at the edge of the field is a natural by-product that is like gold to me. I have used old net potato bags to fill with the barley and mixed some dried lavender sticks in to put in the wildlife pond.
Barley straw is one of the best natural algae control techniques. When lavender is also added it is even more effective. For best results it is advisable to add the barley and lavender in spring, before the algae gets a hold. You leave it at the surface of the water to decompose and the chemicals released clear the algae. It takes 4-6 weeks generally to work and the bag can be left in the pond for 6 months. You need to put enough in to address the size of the pond's surface area and it is advised to put 50g per square meter (for further information read this article ).
With the heatwave and need to top up the pond more often the algae is rampant again so, although late, I have added the conveniently left lying around barley today. I will continue my stick twiddling for now, alongside the barley treatment; it has become a loved hobby and gives me the opportunity of watching the frogs and newts at play!
I hope in a few weeks I'll have even happier frogs.
