Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Cypress Trees

We have three beautiful cypress trees below our dam in an area where there is a natural spring. We would like to plant some cypress trees up in the shallow end of the pond area. Anyone have any experience with trying this.

I am going to plant some in the wetlands area of my property. They love water.

pl any particular type of cypress

bald cypress, you can buy them over the internet

Good, we can get them locally and that's what we were had planned on planting. Thanks for the info

heybud,

I have 4 bald cypress scattered on a couple of islands in my largest pond. I love them! They are a beautiful tree and will tolerate their root systems being under water for prolonged periods of time. As they grow, the base becomes a fish haven providing all kinds of structure. We also have several planted around the yard areas by the house.

Bald cypress, definitely one of my personal favorite trees.

ML My cypress trees below the dam have what are called knees. Not sure what they are. Do any of yours have these? I'm in for the bald cypress and can't wait to get them going.

those knees are part of the root system, which will add to the structure of your pond

aren't they kinda slow growers?

If they get plenty of water they grow faster than an oak tree but not as fast as a pine tree.

I have planted 2 next to the pond close enough that the ground is saturated when the pond is full. They have been in the ground for about 4 years now the 1 inch dia is now about 3 inches. The 6 inch dia is now about 12 inchs. I have also planted weeping willows that grow faster than a weed. My friend the landscape guy told me if I cut limbs off the willow and stick them in the mud in the edge of the pond they would make new trees. So far he is right on. After about 2 weeks new grow has statrted at the trunks. I plan to move them to my 5 acre pond project when they get rooted good. I've also been told if your gonna plant the Bald cypress in the water to plant the larger ones they survive better.

A couple of observations from my experience with Bald Cypress...

The ones I planted in standing water (at pond full) have not grown vertically very fast at all, but have considerably enlarged their trunks (probably still only 6 to 8 feet tall after 4 years). They are also beginning to send up knees. The trees we planted in the yard have experienced an incredible growth rate vertically (trees easily 25 to 30 feet tall) and are simply majestic beautiful trees now 4 years later without any knees.

My conclusion is yes they will survive and grow slowly in standing water, but if you want to see them really take off plant them in dry soil(acidic is better) and keep them well watered. In those conditions, they grow as fast and as beautifully shaped as any tree I have ever seen. I just love the Cypress.

p.s. both the in the water trees and in the yard trees were planted as bare root seedlings.

p.s.s I'd be happy to send pictures of in the water and in the yard trees to anyone for posting but can't take them until weekend.

ML would love to see the pictures. I may try both ways, in the water as I can see them being really cool in time, and on dry land. It seems to me the ones I have below the dam turn a beautiful red in the fall.

Spectacular red colors in the fall, spectacular. I will e-mail a couple of pictures this weekend if you would be so kind as to post them for all to see...firewalls have me locked out of posting pictures.

Meadowlark- You can open an account with photobucket and set your firewall to allow .jpg files to photobucket. Their server will then host the photos for you.

Nope, can't do it from here...firewall won't allow and it is not my firewall to modify.

Oxcellent, ML...bring on the pix! Anybody else, too. Include some brief history, maintainence background, and soil conditions. I think most of us need beautiful trees that grow fast enuff for the avg pondmeister to be around to see 'em grow to maturity.

We love the bald cypress here in "swampeast" Missouri. I happen to live close to the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and a state rec area referred to as Otter Slough, and I can attest to the fact that these are wonderful trees that do very well in standing water or even in upland sites. In both of these areas cypress are abundant both in and around the water. Their wood is very durable and is often used around here as a drip ledge because of its ability to resist rotting. I have a couple growing in my yard (upland site) and I believe that in Missouri (and perhaps beyond) they have the distiction of being the only deciduous conifer. Several of my friends have planted them in and around ponds and in this part of the country they thrive. When we fish at the refuge, a large cypress in standing water is almost a guaranteed ticket to some fun bluegill action. Here is a good link with more facts...

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/taxodium_distichum.html

bigfrog - thanks for the info. I just went to the site and read some good stuff. It said that they have a big tap root. We have kind of a hard rock layer down a couple of feet. I was wondering if that would affect them?

A couple of pictures: The first is a tree by the house...estimated age 8 years or so, estimated height 30 to 35 feet.

The second tree(s) are located on an island in pond. These trees are normally under about 6 inches of water at pond full. They are about 5 years old and estimated height of about 5 feet. Clearly, the Cypress grows faster on a land environment but it is a good pond tree also.

Holy samoly, ML! How big was it when you planted it 8 years ago? All that with just alot of water? Is it a special strain, or just plain ol' Bald Cypress?
Got any fall bronzing pix?

Brettski,

No, honestly it was a bare root bald cypress seedling from the Arbor Day foundation. I'm not sure about the age..I thought it was about 5 or 6 years old but wife says 8 so we'll go with that.

I'll try to send a photo to you in the fall...spectacular reddish color. Glad you liked it...remember however we have generally high annual rainfall, acidic soils, and long growing seasons...apparently a recipie they like. We have three just like that around the house.

ML _ Got two cypress trees planted yesterday. One in water the one on an island like yours. Yours are too cool. Hope mine look that good,fast. I'm getting to be an old man, I can't wait too many years for them to get big'