willow tree for wet area?

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rabidhunter66 Stockton Springs, ME May 22, 2008

I have been told a willow or 2 will help greatly with a wet area I have in the back lawn. Can anyone confirm this?

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 22, 2008

Willows will enjoy living in a wet area so if you're just looking for something you can plant there that won't mind the water then they'd be fine, but if your purpose in planting them is to get rid of the standing water, then you'd probably be better off installing a drainage system. Also I don't know how big your yard is or how close to your house the wet area is, willows have very invasive root systems so you don't want them anywhere near foundations, water pipes, septic system, etc.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom May 23, 2008

I cant agree more with Ecrane about the damage willows can and will do to any pipe workings or pathways, buildings or other structures, please be very careful about what you plant there, as willows do and often cause so much damage to you and neighbours property you just wont believe it, even after you move house there is always the likelihood that the next people could have dire consequences to cope with, Willows are wonderful trees, so majestic and are a thing of beauty, but they are really meant for very large estates or parks where they can be grown for what they are and admired as large parkland trees to be admired for there shape and colour, but not suitable for a small town garden at all and it is a common mistake people make that when they have a wet or boggy bit in their garden they are told to plant a willow to soak up all the moisture without realising they also soak up all the moisture from the foundations of your home. please consider another solution to your problem as the one you have been told will only give you even bigger problems and worries in a few years time. good luck. WeeNel.

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rabidhunter66 Stockton Springs, ME May 24, 2008

It is a small back yard 75'x75' so I have hired a contractor to put in a "french drain" if that is the right term.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 24, 2008

Yes, that's the right term. I think you'll be happier in the long run with that than you would be with the willow tree!

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) May 24, 2008

If the area stays somewhat moist after installation of your French drain, you could plant one or two river birch trees. They like a moist area and are very pretty trees.

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