Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Pines next to Pond?

I'm new to PondBoss- have just had 3 dams built. The dams will create 1 acre, 3/4 acre, and 1/4 acre ponds. I'm also in a conservation program where I'm planting 7000 trees upstream and around these ponds.

Question- If I plant pines (most eastern white pine) adjacent (along the shoreline) and upstream of the ponds, will it create water quality problems down the road? I don't want a high maintenance pond, but if a simple yearly corrective action is all that is required, I can handle that.

johnstaci,

Having recently completed the renovation/expansion of a pond that had several pine trees in and around the dam, I would say to you absolutely do not plant pine trees on or anywhere near the dam...not from a debris standpoint, but from the damage their roots will do to your dam. They have an extensive deep root system and even trees close but not on the dam will send roots into the dam to get water and disrupt the structure. Avoid them and if any get started, remove them....or there will be problems later on.

Agree with Meadowlark about trees on the dam, but pine trees along the shore line(maybe 20' feet from the water edge) and in the watershed is fine. My pond is part of my tree farm. We have Lobloly Pines.

John S

I have 500 Eastern White Pines on a hillside that totally drains into my pond. They are approximately 30 yards from the waters edge and as Meadowlark says there is no problem with debris or water runoff issues and at that distance there are no root problems. You do not want to put them on or close to your dam, including the backside, as the roots will go toward the water.

What area are you located in?

Dan

The pines will not be on the dam side of the pond. My biggest concern would be staining of the water or toxins/acidity problems from the needles.

Would pines cause any of these problems or am I good to go?

johnstaci,

IMHO, you are good to go. We have lots of pines in East Texas and have tannin stained water in one pond especially, and it is probably the most productive pond.

johnstaci :

I agree with the others above . I don't think the pines will cause a pond problem. The most you may need to do is add a little lime to the pond . I stress MAY depending on your current soil . If you have alkaline soil you may not need lime even with the pines.

On a different point you may want to add some other kinds of trees to the mix for wildlife purposes. Pine forests can be a hard place for many types of wildlife. ewest