Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Suggestions for vegetation in NE Ohio pond

Looking to get plants started in new pond freshly filled! Plus should I stock small feeder fish now? Like fathead minnows and crayfish?

Bill D. might be able to guide u in the right direction with your plants, he has been working with his planting this past yr. he is not in Ohio but located in Illinois. And I am not sure what your plans are for stocking fish. We southern boys do things a little different so wait and someone will join in to help.

Tracy

Here's a document you mind find of value. On page 6 there is a table evaluating several plant species with respect to habitat potential, invasiveness, etc.

http://www.ifishillinois.org/publications/aquatic_plants.pdf

Please keep us in the loop as you move forward!

Bill D.

Goals for the pond will have a lot to do with what type of vegetation will best benefit the pond. If the water is relatively clear(2-4ft) the pond will quickly get the natural most common pond invading species such as Chara and narrow leaf pondweed. As water fowl visit the pond and deposit manure from other waters, aquatic plant seeds will be introduced depending on where the birds were last feeding. The early invading species usually spread fast to cover all the bottom to where surface light penetration hits the bottom.

In your shoes I'd take a hard look at button bush.

I live in the South, but button bush do fine up North, too. They are extremely hardy, attract ducks, hummingbirds and butterflies, and can take periodic flooding. Indeed, they even grow in shallow water, up to about a foot (I think).

Their roots are deep and excellent for erosion control in areas prone to that. Also, of course, where they grow in the water gives shelter to smaller fish.

One caveat: Don't plan them where you intend to fish from the shore. (This can be a plus if you have your own boat and want to discourage poachers, though!)