Question
Houston drought in the summer and a couple of heavy rainfalls this winter is taking a toll on our small water oak.  With a few heavy  rainfalls this winter, we notice that the basin around the oak tree is not draining well, that the tree sits in standing water for a long time (several days).  What can we do to remedy this problem?

Answer
Hi Helen, The two best ways are to either build a soil rise a few feet away from the trunk to divert water away or install a drain with underground pipe to take water to a lower part of the yard. However, I probably wouldn't do either. Quercus nigra or water oak is very tolerant of wet soils, even those that are briefly inundated.  The noted plantsman Dr. Michael Dirr refers to it as a weed. It will grow just about anywhere.  A young tree will most definitely need some additional water during times of drought, but I don't think the wet soil will harm it all unless it is flooded for weeks on end.  Jim