Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Late fall stocking

Bill Cody can help with input on beneficial submergent and emergent vegetation cultivars - it's available throughout historical forum posts but finding them isn't easy. A partial list of what I've managed to remember follows to try and help [I am not an expert by any means] - but bear in mind any vegetation can become a management problem regardless of it's "beneficial" status:

Submergent

American Pondweed - floating leaves
Illinois Pondweed - floating leaves
Several species of more dense, bushy type pondweeds exist like Curly leaf, Sago, Horned, Baby, Eelgrass, etc. Again, these can all serve as management issues depending on how it proliferates - at least some management is typically required through manual removal, herbicides, or organic management via GC.

Emergent

I have various sedges and rushes which I cannot identify but enjoy along the pond margins as they help erosion/siltation by stabilizing banks.

I also have Arrowhead and consider it's presence beneficial.

Cattails can help stabilize pond shorelines and assist with absorbing wave action leading to erosion/siltation. However, I eradicate all cattails monthly as they are a preferred forage item for muskrats - a population I too am trying to manage. They also can quickly become a management issue requiring intensive management solutions including excavation using heavy equipment = $$$.

Again, I'm only scratching the surface here, and I'm far from an expert. Most ponds are seeded naturally, good or bad, in year 2 of existence and beyond and it's up to us to encourage the "beneficial" and eliminate the "problematic" cultivars.

PS: I failed to include hybrid lilies - on which Cody is our resident expert and he's written articles about them in PB. I'd like to get some going on my ponds this year.

Thaks Ewest and TJ. Looks like I have some good leads here. I have had a couple of good discussions with Bill Cody on the subject and have a good shopping list started. I am hoping the plant wholesaler I get the plants from provides details on each species of how to plant each one. Other than some input from Bill C. on planting lilies, I have a gap in info in that area. Maybe some of the old threads can help along those lines as well. I will check them out.

Bill D.

Edit: Lots of good info in the old threads on both plants and how to plant. Thanks again ewest. You are the man!

I also thank u guys for the help.
Tracy

Who else is running the roads picking up Christmas trees in the front yards for your ponds? I talked my wife into riding with me while I scrounged for trees along streets of Shreveport. She saw a futon in one of the yards, where it was put for the garbage collectors to pick up. And she wanted me to get it, ha I told her we were getting trees and this was not Sanford and Son's. I plan on picking up at least 10 to 20 Christmas trees this weekend. Surely, I am not the only pond guy doing this. Adding cover for my CNBG and Fatheads.

TGW1,
I picked up 5 and carried them out to the farm. With the structure that I already have...that should be plenty (3/4 acre pond ~12' tapering to 8', then to 3'. I even considered cutting them in half for use in shallower water...not sure what I will do. I'll ask the PB folks for suggestions.
Charlie

Hey Charlie,

I was thinking about cutting some in half as well, but I read in one of the threads just to lay them down in shallower water.

Bill

Bill,
these trees are easily 5' in diameter...not sure how shallow I could place them without cutting them down or back.
C

TGW1,
...my wife is not invited on this type of excursion for the same reason...
C