What type of trees around a dam?

kez · Post by **kez** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:19 pm

Can anybody suggest the best type of trees to surround a dam? I am intersted in getting shade on the dam to help to reduce the evaporation over summer. Our property is in South Western Victoria so we have good rainfall and water amounts. I was also keen to investigate keeping fish in the dam. Has anybody had experiences they could share with fish in farm dams?

Julian · Post by **Julian** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:12 pm

The Mighty Willow would be a good start. Trout are pretty easy, just chuck em in, and they look after themselves.

duane · Post by **duane** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:07 pm

Kez

Take a look at http://www.naturalsequencefarming.com/f ... .php?t=643

Gordon has plants which will go in the dam providing shade and stopping evaporation. This is the way the Australian landscape used to run---ie grass covered dams'!!

Plant only on the upside if you really need to.

kez · Post by **kez** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:09 pm

Thanks for the advice. Do the willows use much water and where is the best place to plant them? On top of the bank or surrounding the bank on the flat ground? Are there different varieties of willows? At this stage the water is very muddy. Somebody suggested either adding lime or throwing a bale of lucerne in the water to clear it up before adding fish. Any ideas? Would water lillies help with preventing evaporation?

Shirley Henderson · Post by **Shirley Henderson** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:18 am

Dont put water lillies in your dam. Will get back to you later.
Shirl

Julian · Post by **Julian** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:14 pm

Hi Kez,
Peter suggests that Willows save more water than they use, as they shade your dam reducing evaporation, and for half the year they are dormant, not drinking any. I put put them where their roots can find their way to the water pretty much right on the waters edge.

Natural Sequence Farming

What type of trees around a dam?

What type of trees around a dam?

Weeping Willows