Ali, **the best approach is to remove excess blanket weed gently, then reduce the nutrients and sunlight encouraging it**. A little is normal and provides shelter for pond wildlife—you don’t need to eradicate it completely. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/pond-algae-and-blanket-weed)) ### What to do 1. **Lift out the thickest growth.** Twirl the strands around a bamboo cane or scoop them out carefully. Work in small sections rather than clearing the whole pond at once. Check for trapped newts, snails and insects; gently swish affected clumps in a bucket of pond water and return the creatures to the pond. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/pond-algae-and-blanket-weed)) 2. **Reduce the nutrient supply.** Remove fallen leaves and dying plant material, prevent lawn fertiliser or soil washing into the pond, and use low-nutrient aquatic compost for pond plants. When topping up is necessary, use clean rainwater where possible. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/pond-algae-and-blanket-weed)) 3. **Check the planting balance.** If the pond is largely open and sunny, aim for roughly half the surface to be shaded by suitable aquatic plants, such as waterlilies, alongside submerged oxygenating plants. This helps make conditions less favourable for algae. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/pond-algae-and-blanket-weed)) 4. **Avoid draining and refilling as a quick fix.** It doesn’t address the underlying conditions. Barley straw is an optional preventative measure, usually added in spring, rather than a replacement for removing established mats. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/pond-algae-and-blanket-weed)) **For late September, gentle thinning and removing autumn leaves are sensible priorities**, rather than a wholesale clear-out. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/september/ponds?utm_source=openai)) Is this a wildlife pond or a fish pond, and roughly how much of the surface is covered?