Most fruit trees will struggle or even die in soils that stay too wet for long periods of time. When soil has too much water in it, the open spaces that usually hold air or oxygen are obsolete. Due to this waterlogged soil, fruit tree roots are not able to take up the oxygen they need to survive and fruit trees can literally suffocate. Some fruit trees are also more susceptible to crown or root rots than others. These plants may take on significant damage from just short periods of wet feet. Continue reading to learn more about fruit trees that grow in wet conditions.
Can You Grow Fruit Trees in Wet Soil?
If you’ve found your way to this article, you probably have an area of the yard which retains too much water. You may have even been given the advice that you should just plant a tree in that wet area so the roots can soak up all the excess moisture. While certain trees are excellent for wet soil and rainscaping, damp soil and fruit trees can be a bad mix. Stone fruit such as cherry, plum, and peaches are highly sensitive to wet conditions and can develop many problems with rot or fungal diseases. Trees which have shallow roots, such as dwarf fruit trees, can also greatly suffer in damp soils. When sites are flooded with excessively damp soils, you have about two options for growing fruit trees in the area.
- The first option is to berm up the area before planting fruit trees. This will allow you to plant any fruit tree in that site, while giving the fruit tree roots proper drainage. It is wise to berm the area up at least a foot high (31 cm.) to accommodate fruit tree roots.
- The other option is to select fruit trees that grow in wet conditions. While there is not an abundance of fruit trees that will grow in wet soils, there are some.
Damp Soil and Fruit Trees
Below are some moisture loving fruit trees, as well as fruit trees which can tolerate limited periods of excessive water.
Fruit Trees for Wet Soil
- Asian pears
- Anna apples
- Beverly Hills apple
- Fuji apple
- Gala apple
- Guava
- Grafted citrus trees
- Sapodilla
- Mango
- Surinam cherry
- Cainito
- Persimmon
- Coconut
- Mulberry
- Camu Camu
- Jaboticaba
Trees That Tolerate Short Periods of Wet Soil
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