Pond Edge Maintainence

[trook]

My problem with tall grass is that I don't want the "wildlife". Especially when the wildlife can send you to the hospital or even the morgue. I have killed over 12 snakes around my small lake already this year....and that is with a clean edge. I can't imagine how bad it would be if I had a strip of tall uncut grass near the edge.

Besides, I would really beat myself up if one of my kids were bitten by a cottonmouth who was hiding in the tall grass on the edge of the water when I had the opportunity to greatly reduce the odds by keeping the grass cut.

 

[bcp]

I have killed over 12 snakes around my small lake already this year....and that is with a clean edge. I can't imagine how bad it would be if I had a strip of tall uncut grass near the edge.

Besides, I would really beat myself up if one of my kids were bitten by a cottonmouth who was hiding in the tall grass on the edge of the water when I had the opportunity to greatly reduce the odds by keeping the grass cut.

I think if I had that problem, the pond bank would soon be concrete!

Bruce

 

[PhysAssist]

My problem with tall grass is that I don't want the "wildlife". Especially when the wildlife can send you to the hospital or even the morgue. I have killed over 12 snakes around my small lake already this year....and that is with a clean edge. I can't imagine how bad it would be if I had a strip of tall uncut grass near the edge.

Besides, I would really beat myself up if one of my kids were bitten by a cottonmouth who was hiding in the tall grass on the edge of the water when I had the opportunity to greatly reduce the odds by keeping the grass cut.

Amen to that- Although the poisonous snakes that we have here are pigmy rattlers.

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[foreman Etexas]

My problem with tall grass is that I don't want the "wildlife". Especially when the wildlife can send you to the hospital or even the morgue. I have killed over 12 snakes around my small lake already this year....and that is with a clean edge. I can't imagine how bad it would be if I had a strip of tall uncut grass near the edge.

Besides, I would really beat myself up if one of my kids were bitten by a cottonmouth who was hiding in the tall grass on the edge of the water when I had the opportunity to greatly reduce the odds by keeping the grass cut.

True,very true:thumbsup: I usually dont cut all the way around are ponds just not possible but I do mow several different spots so the boys can fish there,I usually back my shredder(pull-type) down to water level,this year used my hay cutter to clean pond up in hay meadow.

 

[droy]

Our pond is located in the pasture, which we generally try to cut every two weeks, something I have done at the banks edge, is to cut the grass, then when almost time to cut again, spray a contact killer, i.e. Roundup, but in a weakened solution, like 1/2 the normal "kill dosage". Puts most of the vegetation into shock; no growth, but no kill. Try a weak solution, not to kill the vegetation, then adjust the strength if needed. Usually get about three - four weeks of no growth.

 

[PhysAssist]

Our pond is located in the pasture, which we generally try to cut every two weeks, something I have done at the banks edge, is to cut the grass, then when almost time to cut again, spray a contact killer, i.e. Roundup, but in a weakened solution, like 1/2 the normal "kill dosage". Puts most of the vegetation into shock; no growth, but no kill. Try a weak solution, not to kill the vegetation, then adjust the strength if needed. Usually get about three - four weeks of no growth.

The problem is I'm also trying not to kill our frogs, toads, non-veomous snakes, and most of all our fish... :confused2:

 

[droy]

The problem is I'm also trying not to kill our frogs, toads, non-veomous snakes, and most of all our fish... :confused2:

On the road now, otherwise I would post some pics of our pond- Ducks, fish, turtles, snakes, bullfrogs, big bullfrogs, (about 20-30 adults in a half acre pond), ducks, turtles, more ducks, still more turtles....did I mention ducks?

Estimated half acre pond with island in center, home to approx. 75 flying Mallards, Khaki Campbell, English Callers, 3 semi tame Wood Ducks, 6 more wild Woodies that visit around feed time; 5 Toulouse Geese. An assortment of Snowy Egrets, and some cranes that I do not know the name of keep the sun perch population in check.
If anyone wants some ducks, I'm in southwest LA, near Lake Charles; free, but you catch'em. Would like to thin out population to about 10 Mallards, to many, they are bad for feeding along the waters edge until they undercut the bank. Some places they can swim under the grass ledge it is so eroded.

I do understand your concern; I to was worried, but after a friend of a friend laid his tractor over in his pond while cutting grass, (his ducks had weakened the edge of his pond I am told). I started spraying. My pond edge is so bad, whenever I do cut, I use the riding mower, and first walk the perimeter. I try to spray, then when the grass starts growing, cut it a couple of times before spraying again. I am tempted to try to construct an offset wiper, I understand there is virtually no drift with those.

Anyway sorry for the ramble, and good luck with your endeavor; Lots of good ideas are usually tossed around a post such as yours, one of the reasons I like to visit.

 

[PhysAssist]

On the road now, otherwise I would post some pics of our pond- Ducks, fish, turtles, snakes, bullfrogs, big bullfrogs, (about 20-30 adults in a half acre pond), ducks, turtles, more ducks, still more turtles....did I mention ducks?

Estimated half acre pond with island in center, home to approx. 75 flying Mallards, Khaki Campbell, English Callers, 3 semi tame Wood Ducks, 6 more wild Woodies that visit around feed time; 5 Toulouse Geese. An assortment of Snowy Egrets, and some cranes that I do not know the name of keep the sun perch population in check.
If anyone wants some ducks, I'm in southwest LA, near Lake Charles; free, but you catch'em. Would like to thin out population to about 10 Mallards, to many, they are bad for feeding along the waters edge until they undercut the bank. Some places they can swim under the grass ledge it is so eroded.

I do understand your concern; I to was worried, but after a friend of a friend laid his tractor over in his pond while cutting grass, (his ducks had weakened the edge of his pond I am told). I started spraying. My pond edge is so bad, whenever I do cut, I use the riding mower, and first walk the perimeter. I try to spray, then when the grass starts growing, cut it a couple of times before spraying again. I am tempted to try to construct an offset wiper, I understand there is virtually no drift with those.

Anyway sorry for the ramble, and good luck with your endeavor; Lots of good ideas are usually tossed around a post such as yours, one of the reasons I like to visit.

HI DRoy, and thanks!

We used to have a few ducks of the Ruen breed, but one really cold winter when the pond nearly froze over completely, one of them got eaten by a fox, and we had to catch and relocate the rest to somewhere that wouldn't freeze-over, so they could evade the local predators.

The pond had become really quiet until after they left- they ate so many bullfrogs there were none left to croak at night [or they were afraid to].

BTW, our banks are getting under-cut and eroded away to dangerous overhangs even without the ducks- it seems like the fish are doing it as they eat the roots of the grass, etc.

We do get a wood duck couple swing in each spring for a few days of debauchery, and then they disappear until the next year, although they do occasionally pop back in with their babies for swimming lessons in the early summer.

The "rambling" is one of those things that [for me at least] makes the TBN forums fun to read.

Thanks again and be safe!
Thomas

 

[Rara Avis]

I have researching these options and have yet to make a decision because of lack of funding. I believe the best options are in the following order:

1. Boom mower
2. Batwing mower
3. Sickle mower
4. Backing rotary cutter toward the water
5. Push mower/string trimmer

Due to a lack of funding, I am currently using numbers 4 and 5.

You left a Ventrac off your list...
Ventrac Securely Mows Steep Pond Banks | Ventrac Blog

 

[joesmith]

just read your post and had the same idea, just bought jd 350 sickle 7' and after a little repair i used it once. it works great stay on top of dam and reaches the water edge. so far i am out about $600. but my back will not allow me to do the brushcutter anymore. there are a lot of these and other brands out there but i would encourage you to do the research and make sure of what you need then what you can afford and if there are still parts available. i looked at several and found some people can be very creative about there advertiseing. good luck and keep us posted. joe