Knowledgebase

Evergreen trees for wet and clay soil #317618

Asked April 30, 2016, 1:48 PM EDT

Hi, We live in Medina. We have clay soil and also have a creek flowing close to our backyard. This makes the end part of the backyard quite wet in the summer. Many years back we had planted 5 blackhill spruce and 2 Austrian pines. Within 3 years one black hill spruce died and was replaced by a Balsam fir. Since last year both the Austrian pines are dead and the other trees are also slowly dying. We would like to replace all 7 trees. We would like your recommendation as to which evergreen trees would be good for this location. Thanks, Ritu

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

There aren't many evergreen species that tolerate poorly drained soil. Those most commonly recommended are arborvitae, balsam fir and black spruce. Although tamarack trees are deciduous, they are conifers, so they resemble evergreen conifers for several months of the year. And they grow in wet soil.

Information in this bulletin may be useful:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/trees-shrubs/choosing-landscape-evergreens/



An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 30, 2016, 5:32 PM EDT

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