**FULL QUESTION**
Dear *Gardening Life*,
At the back of my tiny townhouse lot, there is a three-foot-wide swale (or ditch as I call it). I’d like some privacy but can I plant trees close to the swale, which is usually wet?
*—Karen Richard, Oakville, ON*
**FULL ANSWER**
Karen,
Lucky you! You can certainly plant near and in the swale. Near it, try the native snakebark maple (*Acer pennsylvanicum*), paperbark maple (*A. griseum*) and/or serviceberry (*Amelanchier*). These small trees will give you fabulous fall foliage and the serviceberry has white blooms in spring. For evergreens, look to hemlocks (*Tsuga canadensis* ‘Gentsch White’ is a smaller form). All provide protection and habitat for birds. In the swale, plant the largest form of Joe Pye weed (*Eupatorium*) you can. I have them over 12 feet high. Fill in with red osier dogwood (*Cornus sericea*) and daylilies (*Hemerocallis*).
*—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large*
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