Q: There is a surface storm drain in the back corner of our property. Water comes from several neighbors’ yards, so this area near the drain gets flooded and the soil is soggy. Later in summer, the same area will be dried out and cracked. A willow tree planted at the edge of the area only lasted 15 years.
What kind of trees will grow in this soil condition? Are any of them evergreens? For screening purposes the tree needs to grow about 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
A: Let’s start with the willow first. They can live for 50 years, but if one lasted only 15 years it would not be a great surprise. They do get many kinds of diseases and even when they last a long time, they are dropping dead branches….