LibertyLizard

The right may not have good ideas, organizational skills, charm, ethics, understanding of economics, history, or politics, or strength in numbers, but they do have the one thing more important than all of these.

Money!

Generally, the depth that tree roots grow to varies greatly depending on soil conditions and species and isn't very well studied due to the difficulty and destructive nature of such research, so this might not be fully answerable. In most cases, tree roots won't grow very deep in poorly oxygenated, wet soils but I don't have much experience with the roots of these species, so they could be exceptions. Certainly their ability to survive and grow in these aquatic environments that are deadly to other trees suggests that they might be.

Another factor is that if there is a seasonal fluctuation in water level, which would be the case in most places on earth, then the roots can grow deeper during the dry season and might be partially underwater during the wet season, similar to what you've depicted here.

I realized I never replied to this. I'm definitely not an expert on this type of work--I would guess it's possible but the question in today's economic system is whether it's cost effective. I don't know the answer to that question.

Great work researching this!

In term of those trees--Taxodium distichum is very similar to T. mucronatum and will make a great replacement for a New Orleans version of chinampas. Many botanists now consider them part of the same species and it takes an expert to even tell them apart.

Willows are a more diverse group but in general they all grow well in flooded areas, so I am sure another species will work for this. I am not familiar with the specific species found in that area. I would probably just pick one that has a similar size and structure and call it good enough. Or you could just leave it as generic willows if you want since it might take some experimentation to pick the best species.

That said, I think other flood-tolerant trees could have their place in this system. Really it's just substantial woody plants that can grow in flooded, disturbed soil. I don't know the species in Louisiana super well since I don't live there but if there are other species that fit that bill I think you could also include them.

My time to shine! Most have already been posted but here are a few more niche ones.

!treehuggers@slrpnk.net

!nolawns@slrpnk.net

!foraging@lemm.ee

Creating a network of safe cycling infrastructure. These other ideas are great but will need decades and billions of dollars to execute.

Bicycles are perfectly adequate for most trips people take in their day to day life—but most people don’t use them because it’s not safe. Solve that problem and you have a cheap fun way to get around for a huge portion of the population. With e-bikes the needed level of fitness is low and you can cover greater distances in a reasonable amount of time too.

By European standards maybe. But not compared to many countries across the world. I’m shocked the US, Canada, and Australia are not higher for example but there are others as well.

France? That’s surprising.

Ok thanks!

So you tested that link? It’s safe?

Have you tested your soil pH? Blueberries often won't grow well except in very acidic soil. Sulphur can help at the margin but it won't turn a fully alkaline soil acidic. They also prefer good drainage, which it sounds like you may not have. Adding organic material to the planting hole can make drainage issues worse because the good drainage in the hole simply becomes an underground puddle when the water reaches the un-amended soil below. It's better to cover the soil with organic material and allow it to incorporate naturally (or you can do light tillage to work it in at the beginning, but this doesn't work well after things have been planted. It also damages the existing soil structure). I would add some compost over the whole planting area, then a thick layer of wood chips (at least 4 inches deep, but less at the base of the plants) to help keep the soil moist and cool. Also, remove those weeds since they are competing with your plants.

The other plants should be OK as long as they have enough moisture and drainage. It's possible you aren't watering enough as the soil looks fairly dry to me. You said you water once per week--how much volume? Newly planted things generally need more consistent moisture until the roots establish. It won't matter if the deep soil is moist if the roots can't reach there yet. Alternatively, it's possible if you live in a wet climate and have poor drainage that once a week is too much. You want the soil around the roots to be moist but not soggy or drippy for more than a short period.

The first thing I always tell people when troubleshooting is the probe into the soil and get a sense of how wet or dry it is. Almost all plants prefer moist soil--not too wet, not too dry. Often too much moisture and not enough can cause similar symptoms, so it's important to get a sense of what's happening below ground before you change your watering strategy.

I mean… maybe. So was she? What did she accomplish between her presidential bids?