I have a 2 year old peach tree that’s in a low area where water collects. Peach trees are very sensitive. Just a touch of over watering can kill them. Any ideas of what to do with my peach tree that is in a low spot and water collects there? I’d rather not have to dig it out and move it.
Is there something I could add around the tree? Maybe cocoa coir?
Mulch would keep it moist. What would you guys recommend to prevent water from collecting around it? I’m worried that this relatively young and new tree might die.
because of the water that collects around it.
If you can’t more it or raise it onto a raised bed then is there some way to provide surface drainage? Subsurface would be even more helpful, like tile drains, but that’s harder to do.
moving it would be a last resort… but how would I go about putting more soil under it to lift it a bit? 3-4 inches would be optimal. Or any other option to put something around it. Right now there’s about 4-5 inches of stagnant water around the trunk from melting snow. When it rains here, even one inch of rain creates a puddle around the trunk and I have to “bail” it out so to speak.
You could probably raise it 3-4 inches by digging around the plant to loosen the big roots without cutting them off. Then figure out a way to hold it up and add soil underneath.
You might also dig a trench from the tree to a lower lying area if there is a lower area on your property.
How well does your soil drain? How long after a rain does the area stay wet and soggy?
Here are a couple pics. It’s a July elberta that had a bit of trouble growing last year. Had only one branch come out of it, not seen in the pics, But it did grow about 15 inches.
If it only grew that much how deep or large would the roots be? I bought it as 4.5’ root stock
Also, would now be the time to lift it and add soil underneath considering it’s still dormant and doesn’t have many swelled buds on it?
What type of mix should I add under it to promote drainage?
That tree isn’t very big and is still dormant. Dig it up and make a real mound at least 12 inches tall and 6ft at the base. Then plant on top. That should help the slow growth issue.
Basic top soil would be great. Don’t add a lot of stuff that will decompose and settle over time. Just straight soil that drains decently, not clay. While you are at it try to fill in the whole low area if you can. Build it up enough that water isn’t standing around the mound after a wet spell…
Ok thank you. I appreciate it. So should I have some sort of a gradual mound about 5-6ft in diameter? And would you recommend me mixing some small rocks around the outer part of the mound to help drainage?
Fill the area in so water runs of and there are no low areas. Then above that make a mound for the tree.
Rocks near the surface aren’t going to help drainage.
That would help if one wants all the trouble. But if the surface water drains away rather than setting around the tree things will probably be OK assuming the internal drainage of the soil isn’t very slow.
I was thinking of removing the tree then adding small rocks with topsoil for filling the hole in. Would that help drainage below the tree? So it has no chance of becoming water logged as well as also being on the mound?
I think you have to stop first gathering water on that spot. If water goes over there and stop then nothing will work unless you change the direction of water or just build a raised bed around that tree and put heavy mulch around and inside that bed.
Adding rocks won’t help drainage around the tree. The really important drainage is that in the soil below current ground level. There isn’t anything easy you can do to improve that. Adding rocks above current ground level doesn’t help drainage. It adds soil volume that does the tree no good. Get the best soil you can and forget the rocks.
Put in soil and get rid of as much of the surface water as possible.
A couple things, the rocks you mention would probably stop drainage not help. When the texture of the soil changes water stops. Putting rocks in the bottom of a pot does this. People do this to help drainage but in reality it stops it. Also do not bury the tree deep in the soil. You want the tree to eventually have root flares. Roots should just be under the soil but the base of the roots can be exposed. The roots also need air and when buried deep that hurts them and they must grow to the surface. This weakens the trees natural immune system. Also the trunk can be damaged if buried. Bury the roots, not the trunk! Yes you need a mound, always do this as soil settles every time, so even if it settles on a mound worst case your still above the grade of land a little bit. The higher the better. If roots become exposed a little, just throw a small amount of soil over them.
