Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Planting rye grass, lillies or anything else?

Guys, I will be digging new pond very soon. Wanted to know what every ones thoughts are on planting before filling. What should be planted, rye? Lillies? anything else? where at in the pond, how long to let grow before filling? Where do you get lillies from and is there anything else to plant to give the fingerlings a better place to be safe? Thanks,

TKD, personally, I would just seed all disturbed areas at/above the projected water line with whatever grass you want, and the pool area with annual rye, wheat, and buck/forage oats. The taller grasses will reduce erosion considerably. and as water fills, the dead grass will provide lots of fry habitat and food sources/substrate for the tiniest critters in your food chain.

To help get the fescue started, I planted wheat. The local seed dealer sells off the tailings, in 50# bags. It came up great, and I think, really helped the fescue get established. As a bonus, the turkeys really loved it. Every head was eaten off.
Just a thought..
Jeff

I'm near the end of establishing the ground cover between the ponds and the dam. Temps in the 90's with no rain until last night means about 3 hours a night watering for the past two weeks. Most of this is hard, dry gray clay. Got a tip from a landscaping buddy years ago that you can get grass established on pretty much anything if you top it with some peat moss. Working great. I went with a vineyard/ orchard blend of dwarf rye and fescues with white clover, to minimize my mowing time. After last nights rain I'm thinking everything will be established enough to water every few days now. Especially until it gets going, the most important thing you can do is not let it dry out. Thus the peat moss. I did spread rye on the backside of the dam immediately. It takes quickly and is tough stuff. The roots do a good job of holding things together until it is established.

We have had good luck starting grass with peat moss but if the grass doesn't get a good root in the clay it will dry out and die after it has started. Peat and sand mix is great for over spread after aerator is run over the ground. I end up with dead patches with peat started seed.