How long can trees survive in flooded ground?
Spells of wet weather are always a challenging time for trees that find themselves in the wrong place. If you are worried about the way your garden gets saturated with water in the winter, you can always adopt an old Victorian planting tip by mound planting.
How long can trees survive in flooded ground?
Spells of wet weather are always a challenging time for trees that find themselves in the wrong place. A tree seed germinates where it lands and can grow for years before a calamitous event comes along to kill it.
Unlike animals, plants can’t just get up and move from their position if it turns against them, and this is one of the reasons why it takes more than a million tree seeds in nature to produce one single mature specimen.
What happens to trees in flooded areas?
Tree roots need both oxygen and water to survive.
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If there’s too much water, the roots can drown.
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If there’s too little, they can dry out.
Newly planted trees (those in the ground for less than five years) are especially vulnerable to flooding, as their root systems are still developing and less able to reach air pockets in the soil.
If a young tree becomes waterlogged:
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Try digging small drainage channels around the base to help direct water away.
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Prunus (flowering cherry trees) are particularly sensitive to excess moisture.
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Malus (flowering crab apples) are more tolerant, but even they can suffer if roots are underwater for more than a week.
In the worst cases, the tree may die outright. Often, signs of distress appear later, such as yellowing leaves in spring, bacterial infections, or oozing sap, leading to a slow decline.
Best trees for flooding
Some trees naturally thrive in wet conditions. Once established, the following species can tolerate waterlogged soil, even for several months during dormancy (typically over winter):
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Willow (Salix)
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Alder (Alnus)
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Poplar (Populus)
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Swamp Cypress (Taxodium)
These trees are ideal for gardens near rivers or areas that flood regularly in winter.
Is there anything I can do to stop flooding?
If you are worried about the way your garden gets saturated in the winter you can always adopt an old Victorian planting tip by mound planting. Only half bury the container root system and raise the soil up and over the other half to get the root system above any flooding issues that may come along later. Be sure not to make a steep mound that can erode, graduate a couple of metres in width and plant the tree at the top of it. Ironically this means greater attention to detail on watering in the first spring and summer but this is nothing that one of our Tree Hydration Bags can’t sort out! Planting a tree too deep can exasperate flooding worries as the roots are pushed lower down into the water table and are therefore deprived of oxygen.
If you need guidance on waterlogged areas, or the best trees for flooding – give us a call on 01353 720950.
Looking for more advice?
Find out more about planting in wet soils and other areas from our helpful guides. Still can't find a solution? Give us a call on 01353 720950