Question
QUESTION: Our back yard holds a lot of water.  It will remain soaking wet for days after a rainfall.  We need to put in foundation plantings and some type of drainage system.  Please suggest shrubs and small trees that drink a lot of water, but don't grow too large.  We're just not sure what to do about all the water and mud.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Hey, Angela.

What city and state are you in?

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QUESTION: We are in Stamford, Connecticut.  I think the house sits on a high water table because we need to run the basement sump pump all the time.  I believe our house sits low and takes on water from our neighbors.  Any suggestions you have would be great.  We really want to be able to use the yard.  Thanks.

Answer
Hey, Angela.

I was hoping that you were closer to me. Unfortunately, I've never worked in Connecticut. However, here's some general things that should help.

First, I'd suggest installing French drains in appropriate locations to take care of extra rain water. In order to make the drain work properly, you'll want to make sure that the grading for the lot is such that surface runoff is towards the drains. You might have to bring in soil to create a slight slope towards the drains. You'll probably need the help of a professional landscaper for this.

Then there are three things you can do as far as choosing vegetation:

1 - Check your local book store or garden center for books about local vegetation. Most bookstores have such a section, or the bookseller or garden center employee can help you find it. I've never done landscaping north of the Mason-Dixon line, so you'll need to choose plants that hibernate during the winter and/or can tolerate low temperatures and that white stuff that y'all have up there--snow, I think it's called. :)

2 - Walk or drive your neighborhood and look at the vegetation around the houses there. It's highly likely that all the houses in your neighborhood have the same type of soil.

3 - Plants that like a lot of water can generally be identified by their large leaves, dark green leaves, or large root systems. Consequently, don't plant vegetation with large root systems near your foundation, siding, roof, or chimney. Use French drains and roof gutters/downspouts keep water away from your foundation.

If you were farther south, I'd recommend things like some of the trees in the ficus family, philodendrons and other ivies, and the like, but I don't know how they would fair that far north.

Hope I've been of some help.