Well, let me tell ya, if you got a yard that’s always soakin’ wet and the sun’s beatin’ down all day, you ain’t got no problems, honey. You just need the right kinda bushes, the ones that like their feet wet and their heads in the sun. We ain’t talkin’ fancy here, just good, strong bushes that’ll grow big and pretty, no matter what.
First off, let’s talk about them dogwoods. Now, some of them dogwoods, they get big, almost like trees. I seen some that growed twelve feet tall! They got them red stems, real pretty in the winter when everything else is lookin’ dead. You plant one of them, it’ll grow fast and spread out, fill up a space real nice. Dogwoods like wet ground, so if you got a soggy spot, that’s the place to put ’em. And the sun? The more the better, I say.
- Dogwoods love water.
- They get big and tall.
- Red stems look nice in winter.
Then there’s them buttonbushes. Them’s the ones you see growin’ by the ditches and lakes. They got funny lookin’ flowers, like little balls, but the bees and butterflies, they love ’em. Buttonbushes, they don’t mind gettin’ their feet wet at all, that’s where they like to be. And like I said, sun, sun, sun, that’s what they need.
Now, if your dirt is that heavy, sticky clay stuff, don’t you worry none. There’s bushes that like that just fine. Stuff like cornus, that’s another kind of dogwood, and potentilla, and that weigela, them’s pretty bushes with flowers. And forsythia, that’s the one that gets all yellow in the spring, brightens everything up. And ribes, too. They all do good in that heavy clay, as long as it stays wet.
And listen, wet ground ain’t a bad thing, not for some plants. It’s like a drink that never runs out. I heard tell of a sweetshrub, smells real nice, and Joe Pye weed, gets tall and purple, and winterberry holly, them red berries in the winter are somethin’ special. They all like that wet ground, they thrive in it.
So, what kinda bushes are we talkin’ about here? Let’s make a list, so you don’t forget:
- Red osier dogwood: Big, tall, red stems, loves water and sun. Good for filling up space.
- Buttonbush: Grows by water, funny flowers, good for bees and butterflies.
- Cornus: Another kind of dogwood, likes heavy clay and wet ground.
- Potentilla: Pretty flowers, good for clay soil.
- Weigela: Another pretty flower bush, does well in clay.
- Forsythia: Yellow flowers in spring, likes wet clay.
- Ribes: Does good in clay soil.
- Sweetshrub: Smells nice, loves wet ground.
- Joe Pye weed: Tall and purple, thrives in wet areas.
- Winterberry holly: Red berries in winter, likes it wet.
And don’t forget, you can plant other stuff too, if you got wet ground. Lettuce and cabbage, them leafy greens, they like it wet. Squash too, I growed some real nice squash in my clay dirt. And even wheat or any kinda grass, they’ll do just fine. The key is, know what you got, and plant what likes it. If you got wet ground and plenty of sun, you got a good thing goin’, don’t let nobody tell you different. You just pick the right bushes, and your yard will be the prettiest one on the block, you just wait and see.
Now, I ain’t no fancy gardener, I just know what I seen grow. And I seen these bushes do good in wet ground and full sun. So don’t you go frettin’ about your soggy yard. You just get yourself some of these bushes, plant ’em, and watch ’em grow. You’ll be surprised how easy it is, and how pretty they’ll look. And remember, plenty of sun and plenty of water, that’s the ticket. You do that, and you can’t go wrong.
And one more thing, don’t be scared to try different things. Maybe one bush does better than another, that’s okay. Gardening ain’t an exact science, it’s more like trial and error. You just keep at it, and you’ll figure out what works best in your yard. And when you do, it’ll be somethin’ to be proud of. So go on now, get yourself some bushes and get to plantin’!
And don’t forget to water them good when you first plant them, even if the ground is wet. That helps them get their roots settled in. And after that, just let the rain do its work. And if it don’t rain enough, well, you might have to give them a little help with the hose. But mostly, they’ll take care of themselves. That’s the beauty of planting the right things in the right place. They just do what they’re supposed to do, and you get to enjoy the beauty of it all.
Shrubs are hardy, most of them anyway. Don’t fuss over them too much and they will do you right. Sun and water, the two things that most shrubs need. Full sun and wet soil, you’ve got a good combination for a lot of pretty bushes. Go get ’em planted!
