Which hedge plants do well in wet areas?
Question:
I have a very wet area/spring in full sun on my property close to an access. I’m thinking of planting some sort of hedge to keep vehicles from getting mired in the mud every spring and tearing up the ground. Do you have recommendations for a hedge plant that would do well where it’s wet? I have considered lilacs, honey suckle, and/or forsythia. Any recommendations?
Answer:
Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional
There are several shrubs that will do well in those conditions. A few that come to mind are:
- Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)
- Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)
- Cornus racemosa (Gray Dogwood)
- Cornus sericea (Redosier Dogwood)
- Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
- Salix discolor (Pussy Willow)
Here is a list for several other shrubs. Although lilacs can do well in most soil, they need good drainage, so this might not be the best area for them. Forsythia also prefer well-drained soil, but they would probably do better than lilacs in this situation. Did you have a particular honeysuckle in mind? You’ll want to make sure you don’t plant anything that is invasive, check out the Maine Natural Areas Program invasive list.