the bark being underwater or the topsoil being wet all the time? The reason I ask is that I have a water oak on the middle point (refer to my previous post for picturs) that the water line will come up to the base of the tree but not cover it. Half of the root system will be below dry topsoil and the other half will be under water. Will this kill the tree. Can you build up dirt around the base of the tree to prevent water from reaching the bark?
Man, I'm full of questions tonight. Thanks for any input.
mr. fulmer, different species of trees have different tolerances to saturated root conditions. most oaks will not tolerate saturated root conditions, although i am not familiar with arkansas oak species. my guess is that yer tree will survive for some time but eventually die assuming yer pond level doesnt change much.
piling up dirt on the roots will probably only exacerbate a bad situation for the oak. water will still find its way through. most oaks need the majority of their shallow roots in dry soil for proper nutrient uptake and air exchange. when oaks are weakened they then become more susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases as well (such as oak root fungus).
my little input...
cm,
You should plan on losing any tree that will experinece a drastic change in soil moisture content...at least that is what I experienced.
I have a couple of large sweet gums that are still kicking, but the jury is stil out if they will make it long term.
Alligator, how long since your pond filled, and how close to the bank are the sweet gums? I'm just now marking the shoreline of Cindy's pond so I'm deciding which trees go and which stay.
If I want to save a tree that sits on the proposed shoreline, couldn't I just have the contractor extend the line out creating a point so that the tree is 10 feet from the water?
Thanks for the input. I just didn't have any information on the subject. I know everyone has seen trees growing on banks of creeks, on lake shorelines, on an island, etc. My question is how do these trees make it where others don't. The species I'm talking about is the willow oak. This particular tree is full grown and probably 50 years old.
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/phellos.htm GW, those were my thoughts as well. If you could just build up the dirt and keep the water off the base of the tree, it might work. But these guys have a lot more experience than I do so I guess I'll just plan on losing that tree in the future.
CW,
Exactly what DIED said in general.
In particular, I have seen many water oaks (quercus nigra)with their roots half in and half out of the water that grow just fine. If the roots on the dry bank are partially exposed, you can usually cover them with an inch or 2 of light soil with no ill effects. Deep soil or heavy clay will slowly starve them for oxygen. I have 3-4 water oaks on my land right now that have their roots partially or totally submerged for nearly half the year. I don't think the various red oaks would survive that, but the water, scrub, and live oaks seem to tolerate it quite well.
GW,
My pond has been full for 6 months.
The Sweet Gum is right on the water line. That particular part of my pond landscape was occasionally "marshy" before I flooded it so perhaps it had alrready aclimated to the wet soil? Its a really large tree.
To another point on oaks above. I lost a nice red oak that I considered totally out of the water line. Go Figure.
I also have a couple of water oaks hanging in there with at least some of their root system in the water line.
Your post got me to thinking...I lost 3 of 4 cedar elms on my other pond. I never thought the cedar elms would die so easily. They are usually hard to kill and must be dug up. I suspect too much water + distirbing the soil got to them...
For the type of appearance I'm going for with Cindy's pond I wouldn't be upset if one of these shoreline trees died. If it stayed erect I figure the woodpeckers and other birds will use it, if it falls in the pond I've got structure. Am I missing something here?
My pond has some of its bank covered in small trees, mainly elms, toothache trees, and willows, which have all survived up to this point. Most are right at the water level and experience flucuating water levels that will reach up to a foot above their base for short periods during the year. Willow oaks are tough trees, they are very drought resistant, but that is the opposite of what we are trying to find out. Don't know what will happen, if it does make it growth may be stunted, and it may hang in there for a few years, slowly dying.
cm, after reading the link - looks like a willow oak has a fighting chance to live by your pond...what the heck, wait and see, if it dies, cut it down. no problem.
Woa, I just noticed you was asking about a willow oak. Sorry!
Willow oaks have a short lifespan in my parts. They start dropping limbs at 40-50 years, and are all but dead by 60. But they seem to tolerate wet areas just fine.
Thanks for the information. I think I'll leave this tree alone and see what happens.