Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - March 27, 2009
From: Grand Junction, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Water Gardens
Title: Pond plants that ducks will NOT eat
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What kind of pond plants are there that ducks will NOT eat?ANSWER:
Well, I am sure that there are some pond plants that ducks won't eat, but I don't know specific ones. I do know, however, that ducks really like young and tender plants to eat; so, if you can protect your plants in enclosures until they are more mature, the ducks are not as likely to be able to completely destroy them. Another strategy is to overwhelm them with plants, especially grasses, rushes and sedges—that way the more ornamental plants might have a chance of surviving. Here is a link to an article, Plants for Ponds and Pens, from the British Waterfowl Association with suggestions on ways to maintain plants for ducks. By the way, you are not the first person to be frustrated with trying to maintain plants in the presence of ducks. Please see the answer to another recent question about ducks and plants.Here are some suggestions for grasses or grasslike plants for ponds or their edges that grow in or adjacent to Mesa County, Colorado:
Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted hairgrass)
Eleocharis montevidensis (sand spikerush)
Eleocharis palustris (common spikerush) and here are photos
Juncus torreyi (Torrey's rush)
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (softstem bulrush)
More Water Gardens Questions
Planting times for aquatic plants from Winston Salem NC
July 12, 2012 - I need to know the correct time of year to plant the following pond plants
Swamp Rose Mallow, Southern Blue Iris, Soft Rush, American Bur-reed, American lotus, Woolgrass and Duck Potato
Is it better...
view the full question and answer
Poor drainage in clay soils in Langhorne PA
September 15, 2009 - Our backyard has very poor drainage, to the point of up to 3 inches of rain can sit until it is evaporated. Talking to neighbors, they informed us that there use to be a terrain that ran through our ...
view the full question and answer
Erosion control for edge of artificial lake in California
August 14, 2013 - How about erosion control at the edge of an artificial lake in Southern California? Juncus and ..?
view the full question and answer
Flowers for a pond area that will not hold water
January 07, 2009 - We are in area code 77437 in the Coastal Plains of Texas. We have a 1 acre pond that will not hold water (dug to deep into the clay)and we would like to fill this pond with flowers (maybe wildflowers...
view the full question and answer
Specifying sizes of plants for pond edge plantings in Austin area
December 19, 2014 - I am working on a list of pond edge plantings for the Austin area that will be in the fluctuation zone and I have my list of my plants but I need to know how to spec the sizes and to make sure my list...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |