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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Lilies in the duck pond, any tips on lily protection?

15 years ago

I have a large pond (farm pond, with mud bottom). Naturally my ducks and geese have eaten any attempts by me to get hybrid water lilies started...

Has anybody had success creating a protective system- such as with chicken wire, etc?

I figure after 3-4 years of establishment, they will be rooted enough to hold their own... but either way I want lilies in there to create shade and protection for young fish, right now the pond gets cooked with direct sun, and wild birds take all the fish that have little cover.

Thanks for any ideas!

Featured Answer

fredinva

15 years ago

If you keep the lillies in a pot you should be okay.
Bury the pot in the mud all the way to the top.

I did this at one of our Country Club lakes last spring (Ducks and geese!) and it worked fine. I was going to go back and break the pots sides to enable the lillies to spread faster but I think this spring they will still overflow the pots.
fred
(btw, the members loved the blooming white and reds)

Comments (6)

sdavis
15 years ago
Duck always looks best in plum sauce
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
LOL, sdavis. On a more serious side, a wire cage would be my best thought. The frame work would need to be fairly strong to keep the little monsters at bay.I would be interested in hearing how long it takes the ducks to find a way inside. Sandy
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dirtslinger2
Original Author
15 years ago
Fredinva- I'm afraid the foliage will be eaten, and not the roots. This is a big pond (120' across, circular) but it is no lake and the ducks are monkeys.
Actually I had 5 varieties, sunk into a large pot for 'storage' and as each new leaf shoot sprouted up- it never hit surface!
garyfla_gw
15 years ago
Hi
Have had both duck ponds and fish ponds but only ornamental. Was never able to combine the two. Never had any pond your size and the larger the pond the better I'm sure. Did manage to keep Wooducks and Mandarins with some emergent plants in a 25 foot pool but had a built in water supply.. was never able to keep floaters such as lilies. for the reason you mention.
In your size pond you may have a chance?? Probably the best way would be to get the plants well established and then add the waterfowl but you've already went past that point lol. Please post if you find a solution. Somebody may have come up with a way?? gary
sdavis
15 years ago
plum sauce:

* 8 cups plums, pitted, Halved (3 lb/1.5 kg)
* 1 cup onion, Chopped
* 1 cup water
* 1 teaspoon gingerroot, Minced
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup rice vinegar or cider vinegar (pineapple juice might be nicer)
* 1 teaspoon coriander, Ground
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon clove

Directions

1
In large heavy saucepan, bring plums, onions, water, ginger and garlic to boil over medium heat; cover, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until plums and onions are very tender, about 30 minutes.

2
Press through food mill or sieve and return to clean pan; stir in sugar, vinegar, coriander, salt, cinnamon, pepper and cloves.

3
Bring to boil, stirring; reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture reaches consistency of applesauce, about 45 minutes.

4
Fill and seal jars; process in boiling water bath for 30 minutes.

5
Makes about 4 cups

Now, where's the duck...

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