Question
I want to plant 10 Leland Cypress on the burm/ridge of my pond.  The pond is on the side of the mountain and I fear the root system may provide a drain for the water. It would not be a problem if the root system was shallow.  Please advise.

Thanks
Bob

Answer
I think you are asking can you safely plant the Leyland on the dam part of the pond without it causing the dam to leak.

Planting trees and shrubs on a ponds embankment, however, is a bad idea, because roots can lead to leakage and erosion. In addition, pond embankment construction compacts the soil, creating tough conditions for many plants. Still, it is possible to plant shallow-rooted shrubs and plants on a pond embankment, especially along the outside edge in specially prepared soil. The broader the embankment top, the better the chance of planting far enough away from the Waters edge to avoid problems with root damage and runoff nutrients.

On either side or the back side of the dam would be ok.