Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Acceptable trees on back side of dam

I would like to plant a few evergreens on the back side of the pond dam to screen out a view of a neighbor. I know trees are a no-no but are there any that would be OK? Leyland cypress (my 1st choice)? Arborvitae? White pine?

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RobA- By the lack of response so far, I think that gives a good indicator that overall everyone feels that trees on the dam, no matter where, is probably a bad idea. I will say from my experience with our trees on our farm, which used to be a nursery, that norway spruce(with colorado/blue spruce as a close second) has pretty shallow roots. They normally don't have a tap root that goes deep like other trees. They will often blow over because of this when you get heavy rains and high winds. I still would not put these near any drain pipe, because roots will get into those and destroy their purpose.

Have you considered other options like a decorative fence, etc?

I don't think I would do it. I dislike anything that might affect the integrity of the dam.

Agreed, I would not plant trees on dam. Try some ornamental grasses which can grow 6-10' tall...they might help.

Yep

Something to condider is I have a Vineyard for Muscidines, Scuppernongs & Grapes growing on the back side of a Dam (over 16' width at top) with no problems. Trees in a dam run alot of risk. The only Dam I even have trees growing at the base behind the dam is well over 100' wide at the base.

In your location you should be able to grow evergreen bamboo that will screen out areas. It is a grass with rhizomes and not deep tree roots that would cause problems with the dam. If you mow in the area, that will contain running bamboo easily.

I like the bamboo idea, it will get taller than the ornamental grasses. BUT, it will spread, so unless you can mow the volunteers pretty regularly, the patch will grow pretty wide quickly. It might move to the neighbors too.......

+1 on the bamboo. I was thinking about Poplars behind the dam, but wasn't sure if they grew that far north. I was curious what others would think would work.

I would really be cautious about bamboo unless you have experience in control methods or you will be fighting it forever.

That stuff is bad IMO!
My neighbor planted some along our creek several years ago and it has spread into adjacent backyards - it will spread fast and get out of control.

There may other non invasive species......

George, I see your point. I would double fertilize it for the neighbors I have here in town.

Thanks for the replies. While it would be a good screen I don't want to deal with the invasive nature of bamboo . Grasses are a thought but I'm not sure they would do a good enough job of screening. Fencing wouldn't look right and I was trying for more of a discreet natural looking screen.

I should have mentioned that where I wanted to plant has an elevation drop off of almost 10 feet down to a creek that flows next to the pond and horizontally is about 25 or 30 feet away from the water's edge. I was hoping that a shallow rooted evergreen would have more of an incentive to grow roots towards the lower wet creek area rather than towards the pond. There are already some trees growing near the creek bed that provide a decent screen during the spring and summer months. I'm not sure what they are but they are tall and straight with leaves that are aspen shaped have a fairly smooth grayish bark. The trees seem to be popping up everywhere. Now that the leaves are falling the screen is going away. Hopefully these will not be a problem.

I was thinking that why couldn't you plant something away from the base of the dam. Does your proerty extend far enough to get the trees away from the dam? Sure it would take longer to get the height, but sure beats messing up the dam. If you have decidous trees doing that now, why not get some evergreen trees in there too.