Trees for wet, boggy area ?

Can someone help me figure out what kind of tree would be good for areas in our yard that don't drain well ?

There must have been a creek or stream running thru here in times gone bye. It's 1 & 1/2 acres and lots of

soggy areas that maybe could be drank up by a thirsty, water loving tree. I want to plant some fruit trees, but I',m

afraid that if I plant some, they won't like having wet feet. Unless maybe I can plant some trees that like it, to drink

up some of the water to allow the fruit trees to survive.

Out of 1 & 1/2 acres, we could only find a small portion that perk tested well enough for our septic. So that

probably tells you a lot about our land.


Anyone have any ideas what kind of trees would do well in our zone 6 climate and soggy ground ?

Thanks for any help. PeggieK

Several trees may tolerate the water, but I don't think they will drink it. The top two choices would be Bald Cypress or Pond Cypress. Those two are fairly similar except small differences in foliage. Swamp Chestnut Oak, Sycamore, Red Maple, and Blackgum would also work well.

Salix (willows) and cornus should do quite well. There are lots of variations in height, width and spread with both of these groups.

Trees that "drink up" water is more of a myth than anything. I'd give up on any tree noticeably soaking up any water though. There are some that would thrive in that condition though. Some more so than others, such as Bald Cypress and Water Tupelo can be submerged in water much of the year. All the ones above I think are good choices, I would add Swamp White Oak and Water Tupelo. I would be partial to Bald Cypress and Water Tupelo because of the huge flared trunks in boggy conditions and the knees on Bald Cypress would be good there too.

I don't know how you are about a non-native tree but Weeping Willow would love it, though probably not in standing water. There are many native Willows though, just not weeping.

Dawn Redwood.

I have a similar yard that's covered with Black Spruce, White Birch, and Tamarack. But now, come to think of it, this is probably one of the few times when living in a cold zone is to my advantage. It might actaully be too warm where you are for some of these things!

Here is a photo that I took a while back of some Baldcypress submerged in a 22 acre state park lake in SE Missouri.
They hadn't gotten wide like ones not in water for some reason.
If Ok. is hotter in the Summer than here (KCMO), that is hot! It gets hotter than blazes here in the Summer and Ok. is even further South and West.
Will

p.s. The National Champion Pumpkin Ash is in the same park (Big Oak Tree State Park), it would be a nice addition also in Swamp-land. It gets the pumpkin shape at the base from all the moisture and genetics I assume.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v243/w4i0a/BigOakTreeStateParkSEMissouri/?action=view¤t=natlchamppumpkinash.jpg

My brother in Kansas City had two natural springs in his back yard. They made the areas very boggy. He planted two weeping willows, and they solved the bog problems and the trees are doing great. They've only been in the ground about a year so far. It sure seems like they sucked up the extra water, but maybe it is different with standing water? --Kris

Not sure of the question, but willows love water, whether standing water or soggy ground. Weeping willows are extra large trees and they should be planted well away from the house, as all willows put out a stranglehold of underground runners that can interfere with the plumbing. Pussy willows, flame willows, arctic willows, coral bark and golden are all smaller willows, suitable for smaller areas, with the added bonus of colored twigs for winter interest.

Planera aquatica (Water Elm) commonly grows along the bayous here but they're somewhat hard to find in the nursery trade.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2007 10:36 PM

Thank you each one, for the different varieties and ideas you have offered. I told DH I had posted about it and he was excited to hear what choices we might have.

I guess now we will have to research some of the varieties to see what they look like and if they would like our soil (or mud) and hot summers and cold winters.

Thank you again for your help. Also thanks Shortleaf for the pic. That surely looks like a tree that can handle a soggy - boggy yard. LOL.

Happy Spring to everyone !

Most serviceberries (amelanchier spp.)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Nyssa sylvatica

Here's proof Red Maples like water.

Just how tolerant are Serviceberries? I was planning on using an extra Serviceberry in an area that floods usually in the spring and fall/winter. It can freeze for prolonged periods at a couple of inches (maybe around 5-6 inches at this particular spot) deep during the winter, but when the ground is not frozen, it will drain within 2 days typically. I was planning on elevating the planting, but cannot elevate the entire bed since I would just be pushing off the issue on my nice neighbors. Ditto with witch hazels like Arnold's Promise.

Hi Resin,
Thanks, that was interesting reading.
I didn't realize some of the info. about the park that had taken place in earlier days.
I remember that was an awe inspiring park. Just driving up to the park, with the towering trees on the edge, to contrast with the surrounding farmland was amazing.
Just taking a picnic lunch to the park would be worth it, looking up and seeing the towering trees is pleasant enuff.
That was a funny visit, it was just me and the trees. There wasn't anyone else there, not even workers.
Even the visitors center was empty of people. Definitely a place for tree lovers to visit.
I haven't been there in over 3 years, now I want to go back!
Will

Try Pawpaw if you want fruit. I have them growing in my back yard near a stream, the soil is mostly sandy to mucky. I guess its acidity is high cause I read that that Pawpaws don't like wet alkaline soil. But I would recommend you growing the pawpaw from seed cause their survival rate from online sites is low, I should know I tried 7 and all of them died because they ship them bareroot So I just grew some from local pawpaw seeds.

This message was edited Mar 30, 2007 10:42 AM

What's up with these narrow threads? The right half of my screen is blank.

Well you just have to do the Bald Cypress b/c I've always wanted one!!!! :) Sadly I do not have the conditions for one though.. :(

Nicole