Trees on dam walls

Discussion in 'Designing, building, making and powering your life' started by silkhay, Nov 18, 2011.

  1. silkhay

    silkhay Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Just moved onto new property, it has a good? dam but there are numerous small trees growing on the walls, mostly seedlings up to 2-3 metres tall but quite spindly. I have been told by a couple of people to cut these trees down as they will eventually damage the structure. Lots of scribbly gums in the paddock (acid sulphate soil area) so I wouldn't be denuding the area.
    Any knowledgable advice would be welcome.
    Silkhay
     
  2. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2010
    Messages:
    1,016
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    38
    To get a clearer picture
    Are they actually on the raised wall or on the edge that isn't raised?
     
  3. silkhay

    silkhay Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    They are on the raised edge and the sides
     
  4. silkhay

    silkhay Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I did replybefore but it hasn't appeared? The trees are on the raised wall & the edges - the bits that hold the water in!!
     
  5. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

    Joined:
    May 14, 2004
    Messages:
    3,464
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    keep the dam wall clear of all except maybe woody weeds for habitat. when a tree dies or whatever then the roots rot out generally the dam wall gets broached. have seen dam wall in this collapsed state. i would keeping 6 to 10 meter clear around the wall. the water in the dam would be a great attractant to tree roots.

    len
     
  6. silkhay

    silkhay Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Thankyou Len that is a good objective confirmation so we will go ahead with the clearing.

    Silkhay
     
  7. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1,456
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Water can also travel along roots in-situ. Digging emergency drainage during the floods, came across a 20mm root which I cut, water began to flow from around it like a garden hose.
     
  8. silkhay

    silkhay Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Is it better to leave the stumps then? Given that most of the trees have a fairly small circumference, should we paint the stumps to stop them reshooting. What is the pink 'stuff' you see painted on stumps? Also what would be a suitable clumping grass, something like 'lomandra' to cover the area. It is in Zone 5 at the boundary of the property.
     
  9. eco4560

    eco4560 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2009
    Messages:
    5,925
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Vetiver grass is worth a look at as well as any of the lomandra varieties.
     
  10. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1,456
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Pink stuff would be paint, usually (some poison can be dyed). It's for visibility. Since you are going permie, you aren't poisoning. Either smash it down to the root plate with a mattock edge, or cut it low and just remove any epicormic growth until they exhaust stored carbohydrates (longish process but creating mulch material).

    Lomandra, Carex, Juncus, Gahnia, Dianella etc. if you are staying in Zone 5 . Many to choose from, just pick what's native if that's your Zone 5 plan.
     
  11. Finchj

    Finchj Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2010
    Messages:
    330
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Inoculate the cuts with some kind of fungus, like Paul Stamets' fungi-laced chainsaw oil? My only fear is that the tree roots may have already compromised the structure. Maybe not with such small trees, but don't take my word for it!

    Good thing you asked!
     
  12. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

    Joined:
    May 14, 2004
    Messages:
    3,464
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    we let those woody native weeds grow up the side of the dam wall which is all but impossible to keep trim, dunno the names but one has squarish stem and blue paper like flower. these provide good habitat for the bush wrens etc.,. on the top wall think about wyncassia and lotonomus they have solid soil holding root systems. you will need some of the rushes and lilies growing at the waters edge to help clean the water, a good cover of water reed will keep cane toads from mating in the dam. we turned dam from muddy to clear with water plants and also those taller grasses spear, kangaroo types at the margin of the dam all helped keep it clean.

    len
     
  13. grimshaw

    grimshaw New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2011
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
  14. Pakanohida

    Pakanohida Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2011
    Messages:
    2,984
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    38

    WHAT?! He inoculated his bar oil with fungi spore? Did it work?
     
  15. Finchj

    Finchj Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2010
    Messages:
    330
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Yep, he sells it online.
     
  16. barefootrim

    barefootrim Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    never shall there be a tree on a dam wall,,, it just causes problems,,,

    grasses, vetivers, bamboo
     
  17. bazman

    bazman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2005
    Messages:
    802
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Another way to look at it... If it's a very long lived tree... it will be someone else's problem and you can just enjoy the trees and the shade they bring to your dam. I have sort of given up keeping my dam wall clear of trees.

    I think keeping live stock away from dams is more important.
     
  18. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1,456
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    38
    A full-size tree can transpire 300 litres plus, per day. Another thing to consider.
     

Share This Page

-->