Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants willows

I have allways wanted to plant a few willows around my middle Georgia pond. They have never been planted because of what I have read on this site. The lastest Pond Boss has a great article about willows but now I am wondering if we are talking about the same thing. I want to plant weeping willows(Salix Blanda) which I have never seen spread. Is this the same willows which causes the problem in the Texas area.

i dont think it is bill.. we have willows.. or what the old man pointed at and said :"those there, are willow's, those are black jack oak , and thats a post oak"!.. and the willow he pointed at looked nothing like a weeper!!

chris

weeping willows are very messy trees , i would keep them a good distance from the pond. when they get big (they grow fast) the winds will tear them apart.

Weeping willows don't spread their roots and expand the population. What you plant is what you get. Weeping willows grow fast, provide great shade. They slough quite a bit, and live a short life, compared to other trees.
Personally, I like them.

Thanks, they are also beavers favorite food. I will plant some this winter and wrap them with wire fence to protect them.

Bill, I just purchased some adjoining land and a willow filled creek. The deer also love eating rhe willows, especially the smaller ones.

Dave, I spend enough money trough feeding my deer without them eating my trees.

Speaking of feeding deer, I have an unrelated question. In the mass marketing blitz trying to get me to buy every salt lick / mineral supplement in the world for my deer, I'm completely confused and going broke. Recently I tried Whitetail Institute 30-06 mineral, but the deer never got to it. Bill, have you had any luck getting deer to eat this stuff and do you prefer troughs verus timed feeders?

Since Pond boss has added articles about wildlife I have thought about suggesting an area on Ask The Boss about wildlife issues.

For minerals I use a mixture of cow salt(a/k/a rack building salt) and plain salt(50 lbs. each) mixed with 15 lbs sugar and 1/2 gal molasses. Dig a 3 foot by 3 foot by 8 inch hole and add every thing. Add some of the dirt back and mix well. It might take the deer 6 months to start using it. Total cost about $25.00

Trough feeders with a roof have alot of advantages over timed feeders for deer, mainly wild hogs can not get to the feed. Mine holds about 150 lbs, each week I put in 50 lbs each of sweet goat feed(18% protein) deer pellets(21% protein) and corn(8% protein)

couple good sites
www.cooperseeds.com
www.woodystaxidermy.com kind of like ask the boss, site is down today