Cloverleaf makes a wide variety of weed treatments under the Answer label. One of those products is the Cloverleaf Blanker Answer (CBA) Weed Controller.
It is an award winning and best selling product to control pond algae. Cloverleaf founded in 1981 is a family business that continues to operate the company today. Cloverleaf has built up their brand name to garnish respect by koi and other fish/gardening pond experts all around the world. It is available in 800g, 2kg, and 4kg sizes.
The parts of the company that makes it a great brand are the extra focus on design, flexibility, reliability, quality of construction, low maintenance, and substantial value for money.
The company continually invests in technologies to improve the impact on the ozone layer and to better their filtration systems.
This product is likely the best on the market because where many commercial bacteria cultures fail, CBA succeeds. In fact, the Horticultural Development Company based in the United Kingdom found that after testing a wide variety of blanket weed treatments, Cloverleaf was the sole product that worked.
Stick with this review and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of purchasing this product along with whether it will meet your needs.
Benefits and Cons
Below we have listed the benefits and cons of using this product:
Benefits:
- Includes a scoop spoon that treats 285 litres
- 10,000 total litres can be created with 1 800 gram bottle.
- Very effective
- 100% safe for aquatic life such as fish, birds, and amphibians, Also safe for plants
- Starts working immediately
- Rated five stars by 333 customers who have used this product
- Helps filtration systems to stay cleaner for long periods of time
Cons
- Can hurt marine life if you do not have your pond filter/fountain oxygenator on during treatment.
- Will take up to a weed after initial application to kill blanket weed
- Not a permanent solution. It will require continual treatment to stay effective. A few times a year will do.
How Does Cloverleaf Blanket Answer Work (ingredients)?
Cloverleaf Blanket Answer ingredients work by using a unique blend of minerals and enzymes to start targeting blanket weed.
It works by mixing the powder with pond water and spraying it using a garden sprayer. Initially, you will see a milky appearance on your pond, but it will go away within one week. Also, there will be a powdery layer on the surface of the pond water which will also fade. The powdery layer is composed of ingredients that will target the blanket weed.
Within a month of treatment, all blanket weed shall be eliminated. It does not require that UV units or protein skimmers be turned off. In fact, CBA can work in any water temperature or ph level.
Suggested Usage and Dosage
Here we will discuss usage of CBA.
If you notice that your pond has persistent blanket weed production, then you will need to treat the affected areas at least seven times per year.
However, if you notice that filamentous algae of the blanket weed are not as aggressive, then you can cut back to treat only 3-5 times annually. The best times in the year to use Cloverleaf is between the months of March-October.
To begin using this product you will need to create a mixture that can be filled up in a garden sprayer with pressurised canister filters. For every 2 gallons of CBA, use 9 litres part pond water. Before beginning to treat an area make sure there is enough oxygen in the water. You can measure oxygen saturation levels by using a dissolved oxygen meter.
Read these two articles from the Fundamentals of Environmental Measurements to get more information on measuring dissolved oxygen:
Dissolved Oxygen Levels and Aquatic Life
Measuring Oxygen Saturation
Next, use the garden sprayer filled with the mixture and sprinkle the powder evenly over the surface of the water. As mentioned earlier you will notice a white milky appearance. This is simply the ingredients working to get rid of the blanket weed.
If by chance you end up overdosing the mixture it is will not have an adverse effect, but you still want to be careful when handling the mixture.
Once you are done treating the affected area, thoroughly wash all equipment and store CBA in a dry place out of reach of children.
Final words
There are only a few large aquatic type plants remaining in the United Kingdom. The cost of Cloverleaf Blanket Answer is well justified. It works great in various applications such as landscaping, garden centres, koi suppliers, ponds, nurseries, and aquariums,
Plants growing in pots of soil or compost must be washed off and cleaned before dispatching. Nurseries sell aquatic plant tanks that are free from blanket weed. Therefore, you might be interested in purchasing an aquarium plant tank.
Consistent use of CBA will mean that weeds will not overrun your treated area. As a result, it will be easier to remove dead plants with a blanket weed brush.
One quick, important thing to mention before we wrap up is about phytotoxicity. Phytotoxicity is a toxic effect by an ingredient in a pesticide-related product. You want to measure the phytotoxicity of CBA using a broad range of different plant species before you start cultivating new areas. For more information read, “Testing for Phytotoxicity.”
In conclusion, keep in mind to treat blanketweed early in the growing season and treat as soon as any new weeds begin to sprout.
For a similar product check out pure pond bomb.
If you have any comments, problems needed to be solved, or suggestions, please leave write below or share this article to show your support.
Leave a Reply