Piscanthropus Profundus wrote:
Its been far too long since I've read/posted here. A sudden and
drastic
change in career has kept me away from my computer. sigh

On to my question...

I've purchased a bit of property that I'm looking to build a new home
on in
a few years. It's fairly heavy clay and quite wet in the spring and
autumn.
I'm looking for plants that both tolerate wet feet and will also
absorb a
fair amount of water. I'm in zone 5 - Niagara.

I would consider intentionally planting taprooted weeds for a few
years. And I mean in great quantity (it may take a bit of seed
collecting, but all of them are very prolific), ten per square foot or
so. Mow them once a year in the fall to prevent woody growth. Each
taproot will become a drainage channel once the plant dies, and for a
mature plant the root will go down four to six feet.
At the same time the organic content of the soil is improved to great
depth.

Dock, burdock, chicory and dandelion are the best. Only dock really
prefers wet soil but, being weeds, they are very adaptable. Other
taprooted plants become too woody to revert easily to a lawn.
Incidentally, I have done it and it works. Right now you can find
burdock burrs in weedlots, dock seeds (available in july) disappear
fast because they are a major winter staple for a variety of critters.
Chicory seeds become available around august. If the neighbors complain
you will be limited to chicory and dandelion,which are less
conspicuously weeds, and which is what I used.