[Heather]

I've planted some trees in the garden yesterday and had to avoid a couple of spots because I found stagnant water while digging the holes!!!
I'm actually disappointed as a colourful, scented bush or small tree would look fantastic there, and was wondering if any of you has ever had to work with similar soils and what would you recommend?

Thanks x

[walltoall]

Heather. Start by looking up Alder in wikipedia. Fine tree that never grows huge can cope with any soil and flood etc. Another lead is the Salix (willow group) which loves wet ground and sucks the water out like a vacuum. I'm talking from experience having actually drowned a Sorbus a few years ago (before the Irish Gardeners Forum was up and running.)

[Green fingers]

You could always mix some aggregate in with the soil to give you better drainage.

[Heather]

Thanks for your replies.
Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of salix and had in mind something more bushy, if you know what I mean. I did add some aggregate and I'm waiting to see whether this will improve the situation. The Irish weather isn't on my side though... It's been lashing for 3 days now...

[Green fingers]

Fortunately there is also some heat there. This should dry up your soil some.
You could also put in a few drainage pipes which would take the excess water. We did that. I have planted some cherry blossoms, bays, some conifers and shrubs and so far so good. The summer should make a big difference to your soil by drying it out.

[treehugger]

your choice of trees for that wet spot would be vastly increased if you brought in some more soil mounded it up 3 or 4 feet and planted the tree of your choice on
the mound.

[Breedeen]