Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations planting trees on the pond dam

I think I read that it was not a good idea to plant trees on the pond dam. Is this true and if it is why? Also what kind of trees would you recommend planting around the pond?

I'm not real knowledgable in this area, but my understanding is that if trees are allowed to grow on a dam and then they die, their residual root system can be an avenue for seepage.

Thanks that does make sense.

Coniferous trees are especially bad. They sway in the winds year around and as a result open up cracks (some visible and some not) in your dam. A veteran pond builder in my parts says that the biggest problems he has with dams are pine trees.

Personnaly, I wouldn't trust deciduous trees either.

James,

On the negative:

Trees can sap the water from a pond or stream and cause a drastric loss of water in dry windy climates.
Tree roots can die and cause channeling (even around a dam).
Never plant a tree that will spread (for example: wild willows, wild cedar, tamarack,)as they will take over a pond.
Never plant expensive trees as the more expensive the tree, the more likely the dam beaver will get it.
Also, remember that trees attract beaver, especially willow.
Leaf debris can cause black sludge build up.
Evergreen foilage can acidify a pond.
Those darn wild cedars can quickly spread and gang up on you.

On the positive:

For shade, plant a few cheap paper shell pecan trees that grow well in your area. Paper shells will not spread. Just remember you don't need to have a lot of shade, just cover for a couple favorite fishing spots.

I also planted some hybred weeping willows that the nursury people swore would not spread on their own. It has been several years and they have not spread. They were Sauce Llorando Weeping Willows (Salix babylonica).

I keep a sharp eye out for wild baby trees and pull them out as soon as I find them.

I cut a few cedars off my farm every year and make fish habitat out of them. By the way, a very nice touch to making a submerged habitat is to mark it with a nylon rope and a duck decoy. That way you will know where you put it for fishing purposes. I also use rope and decoys to mark my cat fish brood houses so they can be removed each year after spawning season.

Good luck,

Dennis,
Where is Ponca City?
I'm comming out to Centrahoma in a couple of weeks.

Hey, Ric, I'm from Kremlin, straight west about 40 minutes from I-35, about 2 hours north of Oklahoma City. When are you heading out this way?

Hey, Ric. If you get to Ponca City, you've got to go to Chic and Millie's Blue Moon restaurant on the south edge of town. Ribs don't get any better than those!! Maybe there are some as good, but none better. :-)

Just to add another reason to not plant trees on a dam. Some animals will dig there homes in the roots, or dig the roots to eat them.

Here in East Texas, the Nutria is very destructive in digging up roots on dams.