Here we go -- FINALLY! A pond for wildlife...

[bagsmom]

This is looking so very cool! And I love the deer in the bog (though I'd worry about their hooves puncturing the liner). Hopefully they won't eat up all your new plants.

Hopefully all the rocks will protect the liner! They need to hold off about a month to let the plants start growing - then I won't mind so much if they nibble a bit.

 

[cas]

Your pond is looking great! Some plants that the deer have left alone for me are russian sage, catmint, lambs ear and spiderwort. I have used 'liquid fence' on my clematis to keep them from eating the buds and it works well.

 

[bagsmom]

I need to get some of these plants. The little turds were at it again last night. One water lily is gone and they've eaten a bunch of other stuff.

 

[mrsclem]

Deer do not like mint. Its keeping them out of my bogs as well as the monarch garden.

 

[addy1]

This is looking so very cool! And I love the deer in the bog (though I'd worry about their hooves puncturing the liner). Hopefully they won't eat up all your new plants.

You mean like this? In the bog, eating a lily in the pond........................ Walking on pea gravel no concerns about the liner. @mrsclem surround by mint...................

 

[bagsmom]

You mean like this? In the bog, eating a lily in the pond........................ Walking on pea gravel no concerns about the liner. @mrsclem surround by mint...................View attachment 151950

This is my goal! I would love to have enough to share. It is just the two girls and they hoover up everything like a church bus unloading at the Golden Corral!
If I can get things growing and established enough to fill in, it won't matter if they come by for a snack. But dang, these gals like to snack. Last night, I tried some highly scented fabric softener sheets on plant stakes around the pond. I think it kept them away. That, or there is just nothing left to eat!

 

[YShahar]

This is my goal! I would love to have enough to share. It is just the two girls and they hoover up everything like a church bus unloading at the Golden Corral!
If I can get things growing and established enough to fill in, it won't matter if they come by for a snack. But dang, these gals like to snack. Last night, I tried some highly scented fabric softener sheets on plant stakes around the pond. I think it kept them away. That, or there is just nothing left to eat!

I've heard that distributing lion droppings around your garden can prevent gazelles from munching on the plants. Know anyone who keeps lions in your neighborhood?

 

[bagsmom]

We HAVE had BEARS in the neighborhood! It's only once in a blue moon, though, thankfully. They are cool, but I sure don't want one in the pond!

 

[addy1]

I've heard that distributing lion droppings around your garden can prevent gazelles from munching on the plants. Know anyone who keeps lions in your neighborhood?

Maybe we can import lion poo!

 

[bagsmom]

Gain laundry detergent has those scent-booster beads in a shake canister. I am going to get some and sprinkle around the perimeter of the beds (where they can't get into the water.) I wonder if that will help?

 

[addy1]

I was told hang pieces of Irish spring soup in net bags. I did it when first living here finally just quit.

 

[Mgessert]

I would put up temporary electric fence until you plants are established.

 

[bagsmom]

Here are a few pictures. The first is the cute little tadpoles! The second shows the pickerel, chewed down to nubbins. The third shows the string algae beginning to form at the head of the waterfalls. It has been neat to watch the progression of the water. The thickness is gone and the water looks crystal clear. It is hard to distinguish depth because of the clarity! The last two pictures are before and after shots of securing the liner around the bog. I finally finished that all the way around the pond today!!!!

 

[bagsmom]

And here is something I never thought I would say: I think the pond is a little too big. For the space, anyway. I sort of forgot I "over dug" the hole, intending to just shove the dirt in to meet the rocks. Then I got carried away with the idea of using every last bit of liner to get maximum water volume. It is fine. But I really wanted more planting bed space around it. It will all be great if I can ever get the pond plants to take off.

 

[mrsclem]

I was told hang pieces of Irish spring soup in net bags. I did it when first living here finally just quit.

Tried the Irish Spring soap- 20 bars! My blackberries are gone!

 

[addy1]

Tried the Irish Spring soap- 20 bars! My blackberries are gone!

Well I guess it didn't work then...............

 

[GBBUDD]

Get a big dog.

 

[bagsmom]

Update - Gain scent-booster beads sprinkled around did nothing. It did make the yard smell nice, though.

 

[GBBUDD]

Dogs, fence, bullet are the only effective detorents to stop deer. Oh and a bear buy you know that's no help.
There are many deer resistant plants out there but that's only if the deer aren't starving. Otherwise they eat what ever they can find. Heck one of there favorite foods is the blackberry bushes stems , THORNS AND ALL.

 

[bagsmom]

I think the deer here are just on a mission to drive me crazy. They have acres and acres and acres of woodlands and meadows and streams. There are wonderful things to eat everywhere. I feel like they have a master plan to irritate me.
Same with the squirrels and our garden and bird feeders years ago. Our kids called them Ninja Squirrels. When the kids were younger and involved in scouting, they planted things for the gardening badge. My oldest chose habanero peppers. (They are actually a very pretty plant to grow.) We also thought the squirrels would leave them alone. Nope. Those southern squirrels like it spicy!