Your Tree and Water Drainage
The reason some trees die or grow poorly in wet areas is simply because they cannot breathe. Most tree roots need air as much as they need water. If they do not get air, they will die. Some water loving trees have developed the ability to grow roots without needing air though. This allows them to live in marshy areas where other trees would die. As a homeowner, you can take advantage of this trait to beautify your own wet and poorly drained areas.
Using Water Loving Trees to Correct Drainage Issues
Wet soil trees are a great way to help soak up excess water in your yard. Many trees that grow in wet areas will use large amounts of water. This trait causes them to use up much of the water in their vicinity, which may be able to dry the surrounding area out enough so that other plants that are not as adapted to wet soil can survive. A word of caution if you plant trees in wet areas. The roots of most wet soil trees are extensive and can possibly cause damage to pipes (though not often foundations). As we said, these trees need large amounts of water to properly grow and if they use up all the water in the wet area of your yard, they will seek water elsewhere. Normally in urban and suburban areas, this will mean the tree will grow into water and sewer pipes looking for the water it craves. If you plan on planting these trees near water pipes or sewers, either make sure the tree you choose does not have damaging roots or that the area you will be planting in has more than enough water to keep the tree happy.
List of Standing Water and Wet Soil Trees
All of the trees listed below will flourish in wet areas, even standing water:
Atlantic White Cedar Bald Cypress Black Ash Freeman Maple Green Ash Nuttall Oak Pear Pin Oak Plane Tree Pond Cypress Pumpkin Ash Red Maple River Birch Swamp Cottonwood Swamp Tupelo Sweetbay Magnolia Water Tupelo Willow
