Publication Number 430-026, posted January 2000 To grow, all trees require air, light, water and nutrients. Some trees can survive over a wide range of climatic and soil conditions, whereas others are very site specific. Both wet and dry sites present establishment and growth challenges, making selection of the right tree for the right site very important. Know the site's soil When selecting trees relative to soil moisture, begin by identifying the site's soil type.
Soil drainage is the rate at which water moves down through the soil.
The presence of water, land slopes, impervious subsurface layers, and compacted soil surface can also affect drainage. Dig a hole approximately one foot deep and fill it with water. If the water drains away at about one inch per hour, you have a desirable, well-drained soil. If drainage is much faster, your soil is probably high in sand, and if much slower, your soil is probably high in clay. If drainage is either very fast or very slow, consider the dry or wet soil solutions offered in this publication.