Understanding Flooding and Its Effects on Trees
Types of Flooding in North Dakota

Flooding can cause damage to trees in several ways. Massive flash flooding can cause erosion, damage to limbs with heavy winds and rain, and soft, muddy ground can cause trees to be uprooted with heavy winds. These floods happen on rare occasions with the Red and Missouri rivers. The damage from these can be devastating and can cause areas to become flooded for months on end. This can cause damage not only to your home but can kill trees that are forced to sit in it for weeks or months during the growing season. However, these aren’t the types of flooding we see widespread across North Dakota. While we should be aware of this as a possibility, it is not likely why you are here reading this now.

Seasonal Melt-Off and Heavy Rains

Heavy rains in the spring and summer can cause our rivers and creeks (not just the Big Muddy and the Red) to swell or cause low spots to flood just from water around the yard or your neighbors’ yards. These floods are more common in North Dakota and can also have damaging effects on our homes and landscapes. Ensuring that you do not have vulnerable parts of your home or landscaping in low-lying areas will help prevent damage when these floods occur.

How Seasonal Flooding Affects Trees
Dormant Season Flooding

The reason you are probably here reading this right now is for the seasonal runoff from the snowmelt that we see quite often when things warm up a bit in the spring. This seasonal flooding happens because of the rapid melt-off of the snow that has collected over the winter, often combined with some rain or fresh wet heavy snow or sleet. The water often gets dammed in by snow drifts, ice dams, or other features only present in winter. The fact that the ground is frozen and unable to absorb the water also causes this flooding to be exaggerated. This fact can also be what saves your trees and other landscape plants. While very few trees, shrubs, or landscape plants that grow well in North Dakota will tolerate much flooding, these plants are usually dormant or in a frozen state at this time of year. Once it warms up enough to thaw the ground and the plants' roots, the water is able to be absorbed or evaporated. This seasonal type of flooding is usually not much to be concerned with as far as your trees and other landscape plants go. Since they won’t be affected by it when they are dormant or frozen, and thawing out will usually mean the flooding goes away with it. You will want to keep your home and other things protected from the water, but don’t worry too much about your plants.

Growing Season Flooding
If flooding like this happens during the growing season, then you may have some reason for concern. Flooding during the growing season can lead to oxygen deprivation for the roots, which can cause symptoms such as leaf chlorosis (yellowing), reduced growth, and dieback. If you have areas like this in your yard that you would like to landscape, then you may want to either do some dirt work to bring this area up out of the flood zone or improve drainage. If this is not an option, then you will want to look for trees, shrubs, and plants that will tolerate some flooding.
Flood-Tolerant Trees and Plants

As mentioned before, there are not a lot of options in North Dakota, but here are a couple of options for each category: tree, shrub, perennial, and perennial grass. For more options, or to get an evaluation or recommendations from our experts, use these links.

Trees

• Willow, Prairie Cascade (Salix ‘Prairie Cascade’): Tolerates wet soil and flooding.
• River Birch (Betula nigra): Tolerates wet soil and occasional flooding.

Shrubs

• Dogwood, Cardinal Red Osier (Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'): Thrives in wet conditions and can tolerate flooding.
• Chokeberry, Autumn Magic (Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'): Can tolerate wet soils and occasional flooding.

Perennials

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii): Adaptable to many soil conditions, including wet soils.
• Switchgrass, Heavy Metal (Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’): Tolerates wet soils and can withstand flooding.

Managing Flood-Damaged Trees

Immediate Actions

• Improve Drainage: Ensure proper drainage to prevent water from pooling around tree roots.
• Prune Damaged Branches: Remove any broken or damaged branches to reduce stress on the tree.

Long-Term Care

• Soil Aeration: Aerate the soil to improve oxygen flow to the roots.
• Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer to support tree recovery.
• Pest Management: Monitor for pests and diseases that may take advantage of stressed trees.

Preventative Measures and Landscape Planning

Landscape Design

• Proper Drainage: Design landscapes with proper drainage to prevent waterlogging.
• Strategic Planting: Plant flood-tolerant species in areas prone to flooding.

Protective Measures

• Flood Barriers: Use barriers to protect vulnerable areas from flooding.
• Community Resources: Utilize local resources for flood management and tree care.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while spring flooding can pose challenges for your trees and landscape plants, understanding the types of flooding and their effects can help you take proactive measures to protect your greenery. Seasonal melt-off and heavy rains are common in North Dakota, but with the right knowledge and preparation, you can minimize the impact on your trees and shrubs.

If you are unsure about how to manage flooding in your yard or need assistance in selecting flood-tolerant plants, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our experts at Tree Rows 4 U are here to help you with personalized advice and solutions tailored to your specific needs. Whether it's improving drainage, choosing the right plants, or planning your spring planting, we are ready to assist you every step of the way.

We encourage you to contact us for an evaluation or to book an appointment with our experts. Together, we can ensure that your landscape thrives, even in the face of seasonal flooding. Let's work together to create a beautiful and resilient garden that you can enjoy all year round.

Thank you for reading, and I hope that you have found this information on the how flooding effects trees and other landscape plants interesting and helpful.

Tom Meier

Owner, Tree Rows 4 U

Helping you Grow, Row by Row

If you are interested in planting trees or other landscape plants in North Dakota, we can help. We are a licensed North Dakota nursery, and a licensed landscape contractor in Bismarck, North Dakota. We have trees available for retail sales, and we also provide tree planting services near Bismarck, North Dakota. All of our selections are trees hardy for North Dakota, and many of them are trees grown in North Dakota. If you are looking for a wind screen tree row, a large North Dakota shade tree, or even just some landscaping trees near Bismarck, we are here to help with all of your North Dakota tree needs.

To see a few of our services offered: Tree Nursery, Landscape - Tree Rows 4 U - Bismarck, North Dakota 

To see some of the trees and plants we have available:  Wholesale Trees, High Quality Trees - Tree Rows 4 U - Bismarck, North Dakota 

To contact us to order trees or to inquire about having us plant trees for you: Tree Rows 4 U

 landscape tree growing services, north dakota landscaping, landscaping bismarck nd, bismarck nd landscaping, bismarck nd tree care, tree pruning north dakota, tree planting north dakota, tree care north dakota, winter landscaping ideas in north dakota, tree removal north dakota, landscaping north dakota, tree service bismarck, north dakota tree, landscaping bismarck, north dakota trees, gardening services north dakota, North Dakota Grown Tree, North Dakota Grown Evergreen, Trees for sale Bismarck, Trees for sale North Dakota, Trees for North Dakota, trees for sale bismarck nd, tree nursery bismarck nd, tree planting services near me, tree planting services,