With warm summer days approaching, residents are being encouraged to pick up some FREE lake weed for use as compost or mulch on home gardens.

Fresh loads of lake weed are available now at Victoria Park and can be collected at any time, completely free of charge. Residents need only bring their ute or trailer, and a shovel. Also available is some lake weed from earlier in summer which has now begun to compost.

The weed, harvested from Lake Wendouree, has proved to be the compost of choice for Ballarat locals in the past. The micronutrients within the weed have been shown to accelerate plants' growth and improve colour and vigour.

Lake weed can be turned every two days and within three weeks will be ready to boost soil’s nutrient and water holding capacity. It will make heavy soils easier to dig and improve growth.

Lake weed can also be used to as a mulch layer to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, improve water penetration and prevent soil crusting and compaction. A 200mm layer of lake weed will dry and form a 75mm mulch layer within weeks that can improve the root zone and discourage weeds.

The lake weed collection site is located in Victoria Park, opposite the transfer station in Gillies Street.

For further information, contact the City of Ballarat’s Public Space and Environment unit on 5320 5131.