A common complaint from homeowners is wet spots in the yard! With all the ground saturating snow this winter and abnormal rainfall early spring, you may have noticed a poorly drained area in your yard.  These soggy places may stay wet for extended periods after it rains, making mowing difficult or gardening a challenge.  While these spots eventually dry out, many plant species do not thrive in these locations during extended periods of moisture. However, if you do have one of these spots, you have the unique opportunity to grow many beautiful plants that are tolerant of wet conditions.

Rather than trying to make a wet spot dry, accept the fact that it will be wet much of the growing season. Depending on the size of your wet area, you may want to grow a mixture of shrubs and flowering plants. You could create a seasonal planting bed with a cluster of three different types of plant material such as a Red Maple tree for early spring and fall color with a grouping of Clethra for summer fragrant flowers and Winterberry Holly for winter interest. Stir up excitement by adding colorful pereenials such as, Yellow Flag Iris or Pink Astilbe.  To increase visual interest, you can add a meandering bed of rounded stone. Vary the width of the stone bed and add a few larger pieces to make it appear more natural. The following chart is a moderate list of plant material that is tolerant of periodic moisture. Upon selecting a tree, please inquire about proper siting. Measure the area so you know how much of a space you need to fill the size of the bed you are looking to make. Remember to leave room for plants to grow. The space is just as important to a design as your plant material.