Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations pond plants

Was wondering if I would sow some wild rice to attract ducks will this make too much trash in the water when it dies in the fall. Will any fish use it for cover. How deep of water will it grow in, if it grows in 1.5 or 2 foot deep I would not want to plant it. Anyone who has wild rice in their pond I would like their opinion. I do want a fishing pond first,then hunting just a bonus. Lake is 50 + acres, narrow,with lots of shallow water on the sides with a 12 to 15 foot deep creek that runs down the center. located in southeast Nebraska

Wild rice grows about 12"-16"deep in my pond. Once growing it can be inundated during high water events. I like the rice as a pond plant, but remember it is an annual. It does not regrow from rootstock. If you have lots of waterfowl they may eat lots of the newly sprouted young plants and you will not see much of a crop that summer. I had to keep the geese out of my pond early spring to get any wild rice plants. If you spread quite a few wild rice seeds in the fall in shallow water (6"-16") you should see some plants in the spring. I don;t think you can buy wild rice in the store and spread those seeds; they will not sprout.

The first wild rice leaves will lay on the surface for a week or two before it becomes an emergent plant. During this period it is very vulnerable to waterfowl eating the plants. I got my "start" of wild rice by buying the plants and transplanting them.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like it could work for me. I do have a lot of ducks that are in the shallows (full of standing timber). The geese stay in the deep water where there are no trees. Is there any danger of the leaves rotting in the water killing fish under the ice? Would it keep the cattails from getting started? Does it make a thick mat or grow in clumps? I was told once you have it in your pond it is hard to get rid of it. Would like some under water plants (for the fish)of some kind but do not witch plants to buy?