tree / shrub / or anything else that will help to 'dry up' a wet area

[canesisters]

Hey yall.
I've heard that a weeping willow is a great choice to plant in a boggy wet area and that it will help to 'dry up' the area. Is that true???
Are there any other plants that will help like that? Maybe something not quite so BIG?
Thanks
Debbie

 

[Mickey328]

True story Willows LOVE water. You do need to be careful where you plant because of it, though. They have been known to send their roots a long way to sewer pipes and even break through them. But if you have an area away from such things, they'll drink up that water for you. Once there's no continuous supply though, they'll cast those roots out...if they don't find enough, they'll die. Is your boggy area in a place where it gets a constant supply? If so, willows might be ideal...they can suck up the excess on an ongoing basis and make the rest of the area dry enough for planting. If there isn't a constant supply, they'll suck everything out and prolly nothing else will grow.

Another thing that might do well is cattails. They love the water too, and a side benefit is that they will clean the water. Depending on what you plan to use that spot for, you might want to consider leaving it boggy...there are quite a number of plants that can be useful and love those sorts of condition. We're in the high desert here, so these sorts of places are few and far between. If we had a spot like it, I think I'd keep it and plant water loving stuff there. There are some really useful herbs that grown in those conditions. Cattails can be extremely useful as well...they'll clean the water that stands or flows through and all parts of the plant are edible by humans and various livestock.

 

[canesisters]

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to get some more ideas though. You see, the area is in the middle of my back yard - between the barn and the chicken coop. It is the first place to get muddy when it rains and the last to dry up - and BOY have we had rain lately! It does dry up though. In the middle of summer - when everything else is toast - it's just starting to get dry. That's why I thought it would be the best place for a garden. Right now it's a beginner compost pile but I'm hoping to turn it in the spring and plant. So... I don't want a shade tree there.. but some shrubs or smaller trees might be ok.
Just looking for ideas.

 

[lighthawk]

Right now it's a beginner compost pile but I'm hoping to turn it in the spring and plant. So... I don't want a shade tree there.. but some shrubs or smaller trees might be ok.
Just looking for ideas.

Don't know much about S.E. VA but you might be able to put in red cedar or cypress if you start with small plants they can be pruned to restrict thier growth and they can stand wet feet. I would stay away from willow they are a mess. I have a low spot next to my garden that I just keep adding mulch and tilling it in year after year to raise the soil level but that process is excruciatingly slow. Good luck.

 

[thistlebloom]

River birch work well in wet sites, and will even grow in dry areas, as long as you can give it supplemental water when it's really dry. There are dwarf versions of them, "Fox Valley" is supposed to only reach 10 feet. If you google it I'm sure there are other dwarf varieties.

 

[lesa]

What about doing some kind of raised bed in that area?

 

[journey11]

I saw an article somewhere not too long ago about perennials for soaking up wet spots. Wish I could remember more.

ETA: This isn't the one I read, but this article has 4 good lists of options...temporary wet spot, prolonged wet spot, shrubs/bushes (see pg 3) and trees.

And this list too.

And this list is even longer!

Of course, some may not work for your area/hardiness zone. That would take a little more thought.

 

[Smart Red]

You might want to look up 'rain gardens' for suggestions on growing plants that thrive in wet spaces.

Love, Smart Red

 

[canesisters]

I saw an article somewhere not too long ago about perennials for soaking up wet spots. Wish I could remember more.

ETA: This isn't the one I read, but this article has 4 good lists of options...temporary wet spot, prolonged wet spot, shrubs/bushes (see pg 3) and trees.

And this list too.

And this list is even longer!

Of course, some may not work for your area/hardiness zone. That would take a little more thought.

WOW Journey - thank you! TONS of choices.