Seems like restricting the dogs' access to the wet area would be the easiest solution. Also might be a good idea to have the water tested - could be harmful to more than family pets. If it's a natural spring, getting rid of it doesn't seem likely.

Liquidambar, ash, sambucus, willows and poplars will thrive in wet conditions. Some of the irises, cassamia, marsh marigold, cattails, rogersia, astilbe, and cardinal flower might survive constant wet.

None of these, in effect, suck up water - they're simply better able to survive the existing conditions and help with cleaning up any pollutants, etc. in the water.

Look up rain garden - might be some information you can use on those sites to at least mitigate your situation.

Plants won't suck up water from a spring and keep it dry. All you can do is plant things that will keep your dog out. Willows, etc. as specified by duluthinbloomz.

Yes, I guess I should have been more clear. I realize that a plant can't do that much, but I am looking for something that will essentially block the area b/c of it's growth and can tolerate the wet conditions. Something that grows like an elephant ear or a canna but can't use those b/c the amount of water will rot the bulbs. Something that is tall (that the dogs can't easily trample), is not poisonous of course and will spread easily over the area.

The area has been much improved by the weeping willow, it is a workhorse over there. The area has gone from 3 times as large of surface wet to it's current size, which is now manageable by the right plant. I am still considering putting a river birch close, I know it will tap it easily. This area isn't bad at all in the summer (hot NC summers) but it stays a bit too wet in our "rainy" seasons.

Thanks for your responses so far, could use a few more!

Itea virginica (I have the small 'Little Henry' but you can get the large native that is flowering everywhere right now in NC)

Baccharis halimifolia (saltbush) is another native. This one blooms in fall.

Cephalanthus occidentalis (common button bush) is another native. This one flowers in summer.

Okay -- that's three natives to give you flowers in spring, summer and fall and love moist to wet soil.

Cameron
Chapel Hill NC

In his book "Perennials for Every Purpose" Larry Hodgson has a sidebar on using trees and shrubs to dry up a wet area. He suggests Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), poplars (Populus spp.), Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), and willows (Salix spp.). He says "They may become so efficient that you'll scarcely recall the spot ever was boggy."

Not sure how well his suggestions do in NC, though.

Good Luck!

-Caroline

Joe Pye Weed, Siberian Iris, Japanese Iris

Corkwood (Leitneria floridana) is a rare spreading, suckering tree that would work well for that site.

What about drainage pipes and fill? I would make sure its a spring and not someones septic. Seems suspicious that the dogs would get sick from a spring.

Yes, it's definately a spring, we have already had it checked. Also, in heavy rain storms I have been out there (don't ask!) and have seen the hole punch up through the ground and the water shoot up. It's clear water, but I just think in this particular area it's the vegetation that is there that is making them sick, not the water.

These are wonderful suggestions, it looks like I have a lot of research to do on these different plants now. Thanks so much for the input so far.

Elephant Ears and cannas will both grow in standing water. I assure you they will not rot. I assume you know that EEs are seriously invasive in the south. Still, if you have lots of space....

I highly recommend the Button Bush that Cameron mentioned. I planted one about 7 years ago in my "wet" garden. This area used to lay in water for about 6 weeks in the spring, and never completely dried out during the summer.

I bought BB as a bareroot 18 inch whip from a catalog for only a few dollars. It was listed as a flood plane bush/tree. I planted it directly in the path of the main flood water. It grew quickly into a good sized dense bush which I have kept by heavy pruning to about 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall.

This year I had it limbed up and thinned to 3 main trunks because it was becoming hard, even with deep pruning, to keep it out of the entry pathway. There was a short article about BB a few years ago in Fine Gardening Magazine talking about it making an elegant small tree, so I thought I would try that.

I also used the thicketing Red-twig dogwoods and Itea shrubs mentioned earlier, along with a couple of Clethra Hummingbird shrubs, to add more bloom and a nice scent (Clethra), great long-lasting fall color (Itea) & winter color (Red Twig).

As the area developed I added some moisture loving perennials. The whole area is now underplanted with Primula japonica, Virginia Bluebells, Trollius, Astilbe and Ostrich fern. There is still water there, but who can tell! LOL