Trees for wet soil

paul4plus1 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Posts: 2

Hi
I'm looking for a tree that i can plant in fairly wet soil. I'm hoping it will help with drainage. I have been told that some cherry trees will do this . Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

James Kilkelly · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:34 pm Post subject:

My first port of call would be our native black alder, Alnus glutinosa.

How wet is wet Paul?

paul4plus1 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Posts: 2

Its fairly wet now with all the rain. Water is lodging on lawn which is not helped by my dog. I have a green house growing tomatoes which i don't have to water because it's that wet inside. iI was told that a few trees might help with drainage. I'm also planing to use a fork to aerate the lawn with sand.

forest flame · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:16 pm Post subject:

willow trees are good soakers

tippben · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:38 am Post subject:

Trees that can be heavily pruned or coppiced. Alnus (Alder), Salix (willows), Populus (poplars). For a larger tree, try Taxodium distichum, the swamp cypress. It's a living fossil, from the era of the dinosaurs. Check that you haven't got a "pan", a layer of heavily compacted soil, in your garden. If you do, you'll always suffer from drainage problems.

baabamaal · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:44 pm Post subject:

Part of my garden is really, really wet- water sitting on surface since May. I planted some alder whips (three foot high, as thick as a pencil). They are absolutely thriving Smile

and have put on a lot of leaf and a bit of height in a few short months.
I also have sallies (literally snapped off trees on surrounding bog and stuck into the ground) and willows - these too are happy with wet feet- sallies obviously are more shrublike than treelike but are great cover and excellent for wildlife.

I love free plants Very Happy

Cleo · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject: Trees for wet ground

Living & growing as I do, on wet bog in the West of Ireland, I have planted a number of different species & varieties of willow - Salix - as well as more recently, native Alder - Alnus glutinosa. I would heartily recommend the Alder. It seems to grow better in our conditions, & as it is a nitrogen-fixer, will help the other plants on our site. The willows are now being removed as they had not put on as much growth as the alder, & they are so.o.o hungry that they are interfering with other plants in their vacinity. So, out they come.

2 good reasons why I would recommend Alder.

Cleo