Hi everyone,
I live in western Washington. I have a silt clay soil that doesn't drain well in the winter time. In winter the
water level in the soil can be quite high. Sometimes I can dig down eighteen inches and hit water. But, in late spring, all of summer, and early fall, and sometimes during dry periods in the wintertime, the soil drains. In summer I can't dig and hit water at all. I heard someone say that you can't plant fruit
trees without four feet of drainage. There are two mature
apple trees on my property that were planted in 1926, and my neighbor has mature apples, cherries and plums.
I'd like people's thoughts and advice about what kinds of trees to plant and how to plant them. I don't want to put in swales in case I ever have to
sell the place, but I wouldn't mind berming up the soil for a few trees in some places (into mounds).
Thank you!