You can and should plant trees the only area of real concern with roots is around the dam area. Your last 3 pictures are too small to make out much. I would say put the dock close to the house depending on the depths of the pond. If you want the dock to be stationary it is a good time to get vertical supports installed now while the pond is dry. If you are planning on a floating dock then no real rush. Floating docks work better on ponds that tend to fluctuate allot with changing seasons. Good luck to ya.
A few trees will make fish on hot sunny days much more enjoyable. I would pick trees that are clean.... I have some silver maples that are a pain in the ... to clean up after.
What kinds of trees do you recommend?
Jennifer
I added another picture called pond5...
Jenifer
If you would just get that trackhoe guy to take a few more bites out of your back yard your existing second story deck could have been your dock lol.
All kidding aside you should select trees that are native to your area or at least trees that can live and grow in your region.
Are trees around a pond a good idea? Does it prevent geese/ducks from flying in? Will the leaves hurt the pond when the fall to the bottom?
Jennifer
Some trees don't hurt as long as they aren't invasive like willows. Trees certainly won't deter ducks, gees or cormorants. While you would prefer not to have too many leaves in the pond, they will certainly get there by wind.
We were thinking about red or white oaks? Like maybe 5 along one end and then some evergreens on the other...
Jennifer
FFIW - My ponds are surrounded by numerous types of deciduous trees, including oaks. Lots of leaf litter to deal with. If it were my pond and I could choose the type of trees to plant, I would go with all conifers. No leafs, lots of variety and beautiful.
We live in Central Illinois, which conifers would you recommend?
Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce would be good. But any conifer will need to be caged to protect from deer damage. Not so much eating them but bucks tearing them up in the fall. Bald Cypress is another good choice, is native, and has minimal leaf litter. I would add a couple of Autumn Blaze Maples away from the pond, grow fast, great shade, and great autumn color. Oaks grow to slow. Where about in central IL are you. I have a good source of Autumn Blaze maple in the Mount Sterling area.
I am not qualified to answer that but I do have a couple of suggestions. Search for a tree farm(s) in your area. Go there and talk with the tree farmer. They are the experts on trees especially in your area. I would also drive around your area and observe trees that you like the look of. Take pic's and bring with you.
In MN, at least in my area, tree spades with conifers are becoming cost effective(IMO). If the funds are available, you can take years out of the growing process and have a finished look at your pond quickley.
Lassig,
A 30-06 is good to keep deer from tearing things up too LOL.
Lassig,
A 30-06 is good to keep deer from tearing things up too LOL.
True, but an electric fence works 24/7. You can pick up a solar controller with solar panel and battery for under $100.
Come to think of it. This will be my 23rd season deer hunting and I ain't never seen a deer rip up a lone tree next to a pond. You usually find most rubbin' activity in the woods, just off of trails. I doubt that a buck would walk all the way out in the middle of a field to get to rubbin' a lone pine tree next to a pond.
I've been wrong before, but I can't ever remember seein' any rubbin' out in the middle of a field. It has always been in the woods. So, you probably ain't even gotta worry about it.
Deer are real hard on starting trees. Every November when I was startin my Blue Spruce the deer would beat the crap out of them. Let a hunter thin them out.
I find that the white plastic protective wraps around young trees reduces deer rub frequency.
If a deer has detected that you paid enough money for a tree, you could plant it on your roof and they would set up a ladder climb to the roof to destroy it. There would be nothing left but a nub in the morning.
I've lost so many trees to deer over the years trying to get a small orchard started. I am finally getting someplace, but it took fences around everything until they were too large to eat in one night. There is no rule of thumb against rubs, apart from leaving a lot of low, stiff branches on the trees that the deer's antlers get hung up on. They prefer those nice, straight poles that hit 5-6 feet before the first branch. Pine trees do not have those stiff branches, they just disintegrate under the onslaught.
Lassig,
A 30-06 is good to keep deer from tearing things up too LOL.
True just not in Illinois. No rifles allow except for yote hunting.
Back in Oct '10 I planted 5 Norway spruce, 4 Blue Spruce, and 5 Autumn Blaze Maples on the north side of my newly repaired pond. Since my buddy had shot a 135 3 beam buck that morning on my farm we had to take care of the buck (lower 70s). So we didn't get the spruce caged. That night one of the norway's got totally destroyed. We caged the rest ASAP.
The cages are made with 4 T posts and use 3' tall 2x4 fencing. I hold the fencing about a foot of the ground and attach to the T posts with zip ties. The cages will be on my trees for many years before I remove them.
Another strategy is to plant lots of inexpensive seedling trees, and thin them out later. Deer are unpredictable and we have even had them come into our back yard in the middle of 73 acres of prime habitat, just to rub a tree, sometimes into oblivion. I am a rabid deer hunter, so they take some trees and I take some deer. We have planted over 10,000 seedings on our place, both desiduous and evergreen. Most are still going strong. Pin oak is a good choice if you want an oak that grows fast. Sugar maples also grow pretty fast and have great fall color. Plant a variety of seedings, and you can always decide later what to keep, just stay away from the dam.
Another vote for putting in a stationary dock while the pond is dry, if it still is. A dock will serve not only as a fishing platform, but a central focal point for endless socializing. Nothing like sitting on the dock in the evening, feeding the fish with a cold brew (or wine for the ladies) in hand.
