Especially on the banks of water, the soil is moist to wet, and plants growing there can sometimes even stand with their feet in the water. Only a few trees tolerate such soil conditions: some alder and willow species are suitable for the home garden. Both tree species cope excellently with waterlogging.
Willows do well with wet roots
Willows tolerate permanently wet feet
Willows grow practically everywhere and prefer to grow where there is a lot of water. In addition, these uncomplicated trees have the advantage that they make the soil a little drier due to their high water consumption: In principle, they work like a living drainage system. For this reason, pastures are often found along fields or country lanes. The following types of willow are best suited for planting in the garden:
Salix caprea, Sal willow:
This is a widespread, native species with a short trunk between five and ten meters high and comparatively thick branches. Of this species, high-stemmed hanging forms are also often cultivated. With them, the branches growing downward in arches form bell-shaped crowns.
Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki', Japanese willow
This popular willow species is particularly noticeable because of its unusual foliage. The leaves are flamingo red when they shoot, later grey-green and very densely covered with white, occasionally pink spots and spots.
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa', corkscrew willow
This species is also characterized by its conspicuous, corkscrew-like twisted foliage.
Salix x sepulcralis 'Erythroflexuosa', Curly Willow
The branches and twigs of this small, broad-crowned tree hang over in wide, loose arches. They are golden yellow to orange in color and partly twisted like a corkscrew.
If there is little space, dwarf willows can also be planted, which are only about one meter high and up to one and a half meters wide. Well suited are, for example, Salix hastata 'Wehrhanii', Salix lanata ('wool willow') or Salix helvetica ('Swiss willow').
Alders are ideal for waterlogging
The native black alder can often be found on the banks of standing and flowing water. In addition to this species, the following are particularly well suited for the garden:
- Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis', Kaiser-Erle: between eight and ten meters high, loosely built small tree with overhanging branches
- Alnus cordata, heart-leaved alder: between 15 and 20 meters high, very healthy and robust tree
- Alnus incana 'Aurea', golden alder: up to ten meters high, often multi-stemmed tree with yellow shoots and yellow-green foliage
- Alnus x spaethii, purple alder (also 'Späth's alder'): between 10 and 15 meters high tree with a broad, conical crown, leaves are brownish to dark violet when they sprout and violet-red when the autumn color sets in late
tips
Other native deciduous trees often need a lot of water (especially the deciduous species such as linden, chestnut, etc.), but do not tolerate waterlogging.