Im thinkin! of adding some willows around edges and hoping the fiberous roots bind the clay/silt together! Any tips! I"d best hurry up as they wont be dormant long.
What part is boggy? Dolomite added should seal the dam, trees on the dam would eventually penetrate the compaction, especially Willows. Willow trees have been known in the USA to destroy underground pipes in search of water.
the bottom! Small stock water dam Yes willows can destroy pipes but i think they are ok on dams as is bamboo fiberous roots as opposed to tap roots I dont think it is leaking, Do u mean bentonite? Im a little concerned about drowning the willows if it ever rains again!
Willows grow in the middle of the river here so I would not be concerned about drowning them. A few years ago they were under water completely for a few weeks, then half the stems were under water for about 6 months, they are still doing fine. I believe that the council has tried to remove them several times to no avail. I would not put in willows, there is a strong chance that they will be declared weeds in NSW one day soon and you will then be forced to remove them and mess up your dam. Willow drops tend to poison the area beneath them lowering diversity of plants as well as animals. Back when I was doing my first degree at uni we did several surveys of dams, streams and rivers with willows, the biodiversity beneath them was noticeably lower than even a few meters away from them. There is also a lot of controversy over if they do infact bind the edges well or if they cause more erosion, but lets not open that can of worms.
It is not the willows drowning that concerns me, nor is it for the bamboo. It's the roots breaking the compaction of the dam which will happen with willow.
id love to see that survey! I always think it is a shame when folk begin demonizing plants! yabbies and fish seem to like them,as do my colony of rufus night herons (i presume they are there for the yabbies) as well as good harber for platypus Im compiling a bunch of evidence to support my case of non natives being support species for indiginous flora /fauna ,in which case it could be illegal to remove said support species! Pak;; im sure Lawton said they were kosher on dams!!!!
I had Willow drowned because it filled too quickly after planting. I can only assume that it needs some roots out of the water before it fills. Edit: Actually, it covered the top so that can't be backed up with any evidence, perhaps it would have survived if the leaves were over the top of the water. Willow feeder roots may be fibrous but they still have thigh-thick structural roots so consider that. Back part of the dam away from the wall may be good. 1/4 to a half up the back wall?
