Can a Flowering Cherry Take Wet Feet?
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Guest
I'd like to line my driveway with flowering cherry or perhaps something similar. A couple of the holes that I dug were about half full of water a few hours after they were dug. It wasn't raining. All the water had seeped in from the ground. Is their a variety of flowering tree, cherry or similar, that is tolerant of wet feet? Thanks
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jan-25-2005 at 10:25pm
We really need more information before we can give suggestions or advice without taking shots in the dark.
Where do you live? This website is geared towards gardening in the Pacific Northwest. If you live outside our region, our advice may not hit the mark as well as advice you'd receive regionally. I'd be glad to refer you to respected local sources if that is the case.
If you are in the PNW, answers to the following will help us help you.
What is your soil like? Is this a low area on your property? Is the water table high in this area? Is it due to the season (winter is generally our wet season but not so much this year) or is it a year round situation? Do you have the same conditions elsewhere on your property? Can you fix the drainage problem with a French drain or a dry well?
Is this area sunny, shady or split between the two? What size tree are you wanting? Weeping or upright?
Guest
Posted: Jan-26-2005 at 6:52pm
I live in Seabeck WA, near Hood Canal. The particular spot I'm looking to plant flowering cherry is quite open to the sun. The soil is very dense clay. The spot I'm looking at is pretty low on the property and the water table is quite high. It's below a slope already with an existing french drain. I'm pretty sure the water problem will go away during the dryer months, though probably not entirely. I realize that these conditions are not optimal for most things, but just the same, any ideas on a variety of flowering cherry or similar. I'd consider most sizes or shapes at this point. Thanks.
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jan-28-2005 at 11:23am
My gut says this will not be a good spot for cherries. Sorry about that. There are quite a few trees that do not object - in fact, they even like - moist to seasonally wet soils. Unfortunately, none come immediately to mind with characteristics similar to flowering cherries. I'll have to do a little more research for you.
How far away from your driveway will these be planted? It's not width that I'm worried about, it's root spread/root aggressiveness.
Guest
Posted: Jan-28-2005 at 7:49pm
My research is leading to the same conclusion. I've dug my planting holes about two feet from the driveway. The driveway is concrete, so I'm less fearfull of root damage??? Thanks again.
Lisa A
Joined: Aug-14-2003
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jan-28-2005 at 7:55pm
Yup, as I suspected, flowering cherries will not do well in poorly draining soils and will be prone to root rot.
Flowering crabapples are more tolerant of wet soils and would be a reasonable substitute. There are quite a few nice selections. Aim for disease resistant varieties, particularly against cedar-apple rust, scab and powdery mildew. Possibilities include 'Prairiefire', 'Sugartyme' and 'Golden Raindrops'. 'Sugartyme' is fragrant.
For more information, see Crabapples for Western Washington.
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