In the lake area, there are places in the landscape that have a tendency to stay moist. Many plants will not tolerate moist soil; quite often root rot and fungus will cripple and kill a plant. Fortunately, there are plants available that will tolerate moist soil conditions but there are very few that will survive in areas that stay very wet.

If you have very wet areas, consider using bog plants. For areas that are moist but not wet, here are a few examples of trees to use: weeping willow, river birch, American hornbean, sycamore, serviceberry, pin oak, bald cypress, black gum, red maple, D. D. Blanchard Magnolia and sweetbay magnolia.

There is also a good selection of shrubs that can be use in moist areas. Moisture resistant shrubs include clethra, wax myrtle, viburnum, spiraea, Anise, fothergilla, yaupon holly, inkberry holly, itea, emerald green arborvitae, pussy willow, witch hazel and bottlebrush buckeye.

There are perennials that grow in moist areas including ferns, foam flower, Astilbe, balloon flower, beebalm, verbina, Black-eyed Susan, canna lilly, Columbine, foxglove, creeping phlox, St. Johns Wart, hollyhock, Japanese Iris and lamb’s ear. Good ground covers are Vinca Minor or Major, Liriope, Mondo Grass, sweet flag, Creeping Jenny and Creeping Raspberry. If your area stays wet, you could install French drains or you could add some drainage rock to the bottom of holes before planting. With a little extra care and planning, the moist areas in your landscape can be attractive.

Happy gardening.