We have a small "pond" in front of our house that usually is no more than 12" deep and mostly dries up during a hot summer. Now, the water is the highest I've seen it in the 10 years we've had the property.
Last fall I planted a fothergilla major "Blue Shadow", and 2 viburnum plicatum f tormentosum--"Shasta" and "Shoshoni", about 5' from the edge of the water. The land rises at about a 30 degree slope up from the pond. Today, the fothergilla has water up to the center of the plant, and the Shasta and Shoshoni have water about 3' away. The soil is several inches of topsoil plus decomposing oak leaves, with sandy loam and sand under that for several feet.
Dirr says the fothergilla should have moist, well-drained soil. Would a couple of weeks of water soaking its roots where it is now kill this plant?
On the plicatum f tormentosum Doublefile Viburnum, Dirr says ("Hardy Trees & Shrubs"), "In my experience, this variety resents dry soil and heat stress more than any other viburnum. Provide ample moisture. Surprisingly, plants flower as well in shade as in sun. Use as an understory shrub . . ." In his "Viburnum" book he says about this same viburnum, "Extremely shade tolerant . . . Found at its best in moderately moist sites along streams."
I'm not sure exactly how to interpret these comments, so I hope that some of you who have long term experience with these plants can make an educated guess as to whether I need to move them. As the Shasta and Shoshoni grow and their roots search for water on the downhill side, will a super-wet spring like this year's, with the water rising, contribute to their demise, or will they be happy with all the water? Will I get good blooms under the less-than-partial shade of the oak trees?
Thanks!
Anne
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
jimandanne_miOriginal Author
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