Flooding and Trees by Ward Upham
Trees differ markedly in their ability to withstand flooding. Some trees have mechanisms in place to provide oxygen to the roots of plants with water saturated soils and others do no. However, most trees will maintain health if flood waters recede in 7 days or less. It also helps if water is flowing rather than stagnant. If the roots of sensitive trees are flooded for long periods of time, damage will occur including leaf drop, iron chlorosis, leaf curl, branch dieback, and in some cases, tree death. Another danger of flooding is the deposition of sediment. An additional layer of silt 3 inches or more can also restrict oxygen to
the roots. If possible, remove deep layers of sediment as soon as conditions permit. This is especially important for small or recently transplanted trees.
Try to avoid any additional stress to the trees this growing season. Ironically, one of the most important practices is to water trees if the weather turns dry. Flooding damages roots and therefore the root system is less efficient in making use of available soil water. Timely waterings are vital to a tree’s recovery. Also be diligent in removing dead or dying branches that may serve as an entry point for
disease organisms or insect pests. The following information came from the US forest Service.
Trees Tolerant of Flooding: Can survive one growing season under flooded conditions. Red maple, silver maple, pecan, hackberry, persimmon, white ash, green ash, sweetgum, sycamore, eastern cottonwood, pin oak and bald cypress.
Trees Moderately Tolerant of Flooding: Can survive 30 consecutive days under flooded conditions. River birch, downy hawthorn, honeylocust, swamp white oak, southern red oak, bur oak, willow oak and American elm.
Trees Sensitive to Flooding: Unable to survive more than a few days of flooding during the growing season. Redbud, flowering dogwood, black walnut, red mulberry, most pines, white oak, blackjack oak, red oak and black oak.
Lots of Flowers, Lots of Seeds by Ward Upham
severe enough that root systems were likely damaged so that even when rainfall returned, the plant was under moisture stress, especially in the upper portions of the tree. This stress, then, stimulated the plant to set an abnormally high number of fruit buds resulting in tremendous flowering and seed production this year.
Roots need to breathe; they need oxygen. With the excessive rains much of Kansas has received recently, it may be a while before watering needs to be done. Just don’t wait too long as the damaged root system will not be as efficient in taking up the water the plant needs.
under the tree. If it is difficult to push the tang of the screwdriver into the soil, it is time to water. Water enough so that the soil is moist to a depth of one foot. Use a long-tanged screwdriver, a wooden dowel or a metal rod such as a section of rebar or electric fence pos to test. It will stop when it hits dry soil.
