This is random but if you live in a well watered area of the world, but especially in the States where I can actually purchase your suggestions, would you mind helping me here, a little?! As you might recall, Jason and I purchased several trees to plant in our new yard last summer, two of which were Maples, one for Em and the other for Noah. Because we live in the Southwest region of the USA, our aim was to use Xeriscape landscaping and tree choices. Obviously not cactus like my homeland of Arizona but high desert, high elevation choices that need very little water. I like to do my part for the environment, it's also why I don't wash my hair everyday...I'm neat like that.
Well, that's all fine and dandy, even admirable to save the planet, but we also live in the run off zone of a hill. Any rain or snow that pounds our town makes its way into our back yard. It provides beautiful green grass, but, we have a lot of water in the low lying areas of our yard and as a result, all, I MEAN ALL, of our landscaping has died, save maybe a few Aspen trees and HOPEFULLY a cluster of birch, but that remains to be seen.
So, basically, for all you green-thumbs out there, I'm begging for help! What plants and trees love 'wet feet', as my mom called it? Now, I know the tropical stuff loves water, but as much as you know I love Mexico, I am not planting palm trees in my yard! Someone actually did that in another neighborhood...not only are they out of place, they can't take the freeze of winter and are now gigantic brown "statues" in their yard...not the look I am going for, here. Any gardeners out there, will you please send me names of perennials, trees, and bushes and plants that can take the sun, the direct heat of summer, the frozen tundra of winter, and a boat load of run off from the hills?
The one thing that comes to mind quickly is River Birch. They thrive in heat as long as they are kept well-watered. Sounds like a win-win tree for your yard! By the way, they do get very large if they are in the right conditions! They are also a very pretty, graceful tree. Hope that helps and good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that came to mind was a weeping willow. My favorite tree :) I know they LOVE and need plenty of water. I have seen plenty of them in the Northwest here, so I would imagine they do just fine in cold weather.
ReplyDeleteCottonwood trees can handle a lot of water....or a little water. So can sycamore trees. Both of these trees grow by rivers and streams in the West. They can also handle the hot, dry weather that Colorado gets in the summer. They are "survivor" trees without being as hard to trim up as weeping willows.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about the surviving the winter part but we have a Japanese Magnolia that soaks up the water. We were looking into getting a weeping willow but their roots are really invasive and it's recommended that they be planted with caution if you have a septic system- gross to think about but thought I'd give you a heads up.
ReplyDeleteWillows, cedars and cottonwoods all like lots of water. We used to live in Montana and had a VERY similar problem. Our backyard had so much water at one point that we had DUCKS swimming in it!
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember having dogwoods back there too.
Good luck!
Not sure if it would grow in Co., but bald cypress or pond cypress. Here is link to try:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium
and:
http://www.estesnet.com/PublicWorks/Parks/PlantingTrees.aspx#CONIFEROUS%20TREES
Hope this helps.:)
I have to recommend river birch as did Nancy. We have one in our backyard that is close to the septic tank. Yeah, not a good thing. But boy those trees love 'wet feet' as they are found naturally by rivers, ponds and the like. I don't know how well they would do in Colorado, but they do well in the state of SC.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same problem in our neighborhood. We have a HUGE sycamore tree that has obviously survived the water. We also have an Ash tree, BEAUTIFUL in the fall. Popalar's love water. White Oak trees also might work, they grow quickly, but I'm not sure if they would like the winter snow of Colorado (I know they like the heat of Alabama!)
ReplyDeleteIt is very wet and hot here in houston. In fact, last week we were completely surrounded by water. The cedar tree's seem to love it as well as the pecan and oak trees.
ReplyDelete