Planting mini forest on wet field

[Brad d]

So my lot is 250'X760' deep and the back is lower than the front and does not have that good of drainage.. because we built up the front when we built the house and so did the guy next door.

now I would like to till it up but the water seems to sit all summer (im up in winnipeg manitoba) some spots are dry but a lot of it has a inch or two of water on top.

What do you think the best way to prep this is? Bulldozer, or would that sink in the soft mud? All I have is a BX1500.. so that is out of the question

Or should I just dig a pond and plant the trees around it?
goes to the back of that green hill, about 400' from where this pic was shot

 

[MarkV]

Brad you will need to be careful about what type of trees you select. Many a tree will not live with wet feet,if you know what I mean. It sure would be better is you could get the area to dry out.

MarkV

 

[radioman]

A pond is always nice, but do you have a source of water from ditch or can divert water into the pond to keep it high?

Either build a pond with trees in background or bulldoze area to divert water to your road ditch andd plant trees.Perhaps you could have both water loving trees and a pond at same time ? Some trees like alot of water and can suck up gallons like willows.

 

[dangerdoc]

A pond is always nice, but do you have a source of water from ditch or can divert water into the pond to keep it high?

Either build a pond with trees in background or bulldoze area to divert water to your road ditch andd plant trees.Perhaps you could have both water loving trees and a pond at same time ? Some trees like alot of water and can suck up gallons like willows.

I don't know what grows that far north but I agree with you. Pick the tree varieties that love wet feet and they will help dry the soil. Here that would be willow, cotton wood and sycamore.

 

[EddieWalker]

You didn't mention budget. Digging a pond costs money. Digging a ditch to drain the water is less money, but you have to be careful what you do with that water. Will the person who gets it on his land be happy or angry about it? If you go the pond route, digging is easy, spreading the dirt and moving it away from the hole in the ground is the hard part. Since you have standing water well into winter, I'd say that you shouldn't have much of a problem keeping it full.

What do you want to do with the land? Grow crops? Raise animals? Or just have a big lawn?

Eddie

 

[Brad d]

You didn't mention budget. Digging a pond costs money. Digging a ditch to drain the water is less money, but you have to be careful what you do with that water. Will the person who gets it on his land be happy or angry about it? If you go the pond route, digging is easy, spreading the dirt and moving it away from the hole in the ground is the hard part. Since you have standing water well into winter, I'd say that you shouldn't have much of a problem keeping it full.

What do you want to do with the land? Grow crops? Raise animals? Or just have a big lawn?

Eddie

Well for budget.. i would spend a few grand.. I would think a guy with a machine would cost 150$ ish a hour.. and what would it take a few days?

Like you guys said getting the water out front is going to be a pain, there is a ditch that runs along the front. And its lower than the field.. but water sits all year round.. and just raises mosquitoes So i figure no water or a big body of water with some fish would keep them at bay.

Plans are to stop the wind.. have some trees to look at and keep a bit of wild life around (right now we have ducks, Canadian geese on the little amount of water + prairie chickens, snow owl, fox.. ect)


I have looked at that pond boss forum and looks like you need a clay base.. my yard is 1' top soil, 4' of silt then many feet of heavy gray clay.


"added red dots to my property line"

 

[RonVL4]

HI Brad D !From which part of Winnipeg are you? I'm from your part of the world and often see big signs in new areas posting wanting clean fill ! Might be a solution to your problem depending on how low your lot is.

Ron

 

[studor]

And its lower than the field.. but water sits all year round.. and just raises mosquitoes So i figure no water or a big body of water with some fish would keep them at bay.

As long as the water does not move it will raise mosquitoes and as I remember it in Manitoba the mosquitoes eat the fish not vice versa
I would (and have) plant nanny berry, red osier dogwood and or tamarack to grow fast and attract wildlife -- willow would also work. I would be tempted to start with a small deep pond with channels cut to it to drain the outlying area. As Eddie points out, if you do decide on a pond make sure you plan it so the topsoil is accessible and not buried under the clay
regards

 

[AchingBack]

Brad d, here is a link to a thread about windbreaks. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/134766-help-wind-around-house.html

 

[jdmar]

If the ditch is lower and you really do not want a pond...I'd say put some drains in. You could likely put some "sock covered" 4 inch lines to a larger 6-8" drain and let gravity do the work. It takes very little slope for water to move...and slow draining 24 hours a day can do a lot. Your tractor will not be crushing any of the lines if they are burried much at all. And this is something you can do in a handful of weekends. Maybe run in the long 6-8" main drain to the ditch one long weekend. Then you can add 4 inch lines as needed. You may find that only one or two of the perforated lines at the lowest areas do all you need. Most trenchers can do the 4 inch line. The 6 might take a small hoe. Either one can be rented for little dollars compared to the work that gets done. Or higher the main line (pros have laser levellers and helpers!). I had a 1' wide by 4' deep line dug for electric for about a $1 foot a just a few months ago (times are hard though and I back filled myself).

I have also heard (no personal knowledge though) that "swamp oaks" are great in wet areas. I am told they are a type of white oak. They still have the deep roots so they do not blow over or break easily like some wet area plants.

Let us know what you plan to do and send some pics as the project develops. Bwest of luck to you.