Hello I live in a gated community. We have an area called the meadow. It's actually a grass covered drainage area. The problem being it's always soggy. The drainage area is surrounded by birch trees. Some years back the counsel had them pruned. Whoever did the job butchered them. We now have tall spindly birch with large branches breaking off. A certified arborist has looked at the trees and said as many as 3 may have to be removed. He noticed the soggy drainage area. I asked if he thought a couple of weeping willows might help keep the area drier. He thought it would be a great idea. Now the question. We don't really want tall willows but at the same time we don't want a dwarf variety. Any recommendations? Thanks Ken
I don't think any trees are doing to dry the area up, you need to put in drain lines to accomplish that. And since willows are a bit on the trashy side, as far as it goes maybe choose a tree that would grow there and meet the approval of the group - that is a little more refined. Or at least won't be likely to have issues with cankers, breakage or lack of longevity. The small-growing native wetland tree black hawthorn can be fairly colorful in autumn and interesting in winter, with its pale bark and noticeable thorns. There is also Oregon crabapple, it produces multiple leaf colors in a sunny position. Another wild yet often small-growing one for damp places that can be good in fall is cascara. If not too wet vine maple is also possible.
Sorry for the late reply. None of the trees (7 Birch, 1 Beech and 1 Pine) are actually growing down in the drainage area. The area does have drainage pipes. Although it is rarely has standing water it seems to be "spongy" 9 months a year. I guess my question should have been "What type of trees will tolerate having a wet area close by?". Or maybe, "What trees that tend to take up water more than other species?" I think most people here would prefer some type of "show" be that Spring flowers or excellent Fall colour. Ken
How about Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’, also sold as Salix babylonica var. pekinensis ‘Tortuosa’? It is a nice mid-size willow with an interesting branch pattern. It's not regarded as particularly blight resistant, but my 15 yr old one has been problem free so far. It's branching looks a bit like Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana "Contorta", but unlike the hazel which I think alway looks blighted when in leaf, the willow's narrow leaves just twist attractively. Very nice in winter and early spring and attracive to birds as food and habitat. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden....details/kc/c145/salix-matsudana-tortuosa.aspx
Funny you should mention that. Received the arborist's report yesterday about the dying birch trees. He mentions replacing with a Salix Babylonica. It looks like we may also add higher up away from the "wet area" a Laburnum Golden Chain and a Prariefire crabapple. Looking at a Harlequin Glorybower also. Ken
If he was talking about weeping Bablyon willow that is seldom grown in the north, other green weeping willows being mis-called by that name. The most exciting large weeping willow, by far the most prevalent one on the market is golden weeping willow, Salix x sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma'. This is often offered under synonymous botanical names, the key thing to remember is that is is the golden one. But like plain green S. x sepulcralis and other hybrids passed as S. babylonica it produces a large tree, suitable only for spacious areas unless cut down to a stump at frequent intervals. Golden chain has poisonous parts and can be be marred by numbers of unattractive spent pods during winter. 'Prairiefire' is now considered an obsolete cultivar, with issues that prompt introducers of certain new crabapple varieties to promote than as replacements for it. Harlequin glorybower produces a unique effect in this region but may become quite suckerous on some sites and is not fully hardy unless var. fargesii is sought out and chosen over the typical plant.
Luckily the area is a meadow about 2 acres in size. Why do I see them in parks? I watched wedding pictures being taken under a twin row of about 6 per side. Made a lovely canape. I was reading about a new red/pink crabapple late last year where it seemed the vast majority raved about it. Should have written it down. :-( Royal "something"??? Up on the first or second block of west Cambridge Street in Burnaby BC an owner has planted Glorybowers. Some look to be at the very least 10 years old. They seem to be thriving. Ken
10 years is nothing, when you are talking about trees. How long do you want the planting to last? Next door to me the biggest Harlequin glorybower I have ever seen was decimated by the 1990 winter. Most others of the typical variety in the area froze back that year also. And so on. I'm not going to continue arguing.
A word of caution with the Golden Chain...it will seed itself all over the place.I have a couple & am constantly pulling up the seedlings that have sprung up into my gardens.They are beautiful but are a lot of work if you don't want a forest of them.
This area is mowed every week from March 1st to the end of October. I hope that's enough to keep the seedlings down. Ken
I've had them pop up in places you wouldn't think they'd show up but they manage.We mow our lawn every week & that controls the ones in the lawn but if you have gardens around be sure to keep an eye out as they are very fast growers & before you know it you have a tree growing out of your flower garden.If I can I try to cut off as many of the seed pods that are on the tree....it helps until the tree becomes too big to do it.Even though they are a lot of work..they are still my favorite trees when in bloom....so pretty! I also try to keep them trimmed to a managable height which helps. Good luck Sherry
