What kind of wood is suitable?

[Shdwdrgn]

Since many of my fish are white/silver in color, they do no blend in very well with the plastic plants I keep in the pond for them to hide in through the Winter. This year I have been thinking about making a pile of logs spanning across an area where they like to sit during the Winter.

I have some branches from a white maple and an aspen tree that have completely dried over the past couple years, but I have no idea if they will eventually sink in the water, or if I'm wasting my time with them? There's not a lot of choices for hardwood around here -- the most common trees are pines (which of course are no good), maples and aspens, willows, and some fruit trees like apple or crabapple. There are also *lots* of cottonwood trees. Can anyone suggest if any of these woods would be suitable in the pond and will readily sink? Are there any types that would be safe to put in 'green'?

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I have some branches from a white maple and an aspen tree that have completely dried over the past couple years, but I have no idea if they will eventually sink in the water, or if I'm wasting my time with them?

I had a log in my pond all last year it only sunk about an inch throughout the year. Eventually it will, but "eventually" could be a long time from now.

 

[taherrmann4]

All the logs that I have had in my pond have eventually gotten water logged and sank. Some quicker than others and I can't really tell what type of wood it was as I pick up driftwood from the river, then let it dry out for a while before putting it in my pond. Now I only put part of it in my pond to aid the frogs in being able to get out or just hang on the log.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I gather old pieces of mostly Cottonwood driftwood from the river after flood and use them around pond. They will sink sooner or later and make a nice home for the fish.

 

[Shdwdrgn]

Hmm nice to know cottonwood doesn't cause any problems... Like I mentioned above, the tree grows like a weed around here, and people are always cutting them down, so acquiring some logs shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

My log is willow. I did research on it before I put it in and found that the wood should be fine but willow bark can be an issue. My log didn't have any bark so I put it in and everything was fine.

Best is to find wood that is old and dried.