Planting a bald cypress near a horse pasture?

[PonyRiderMom]

I’m expanding one of my pastures. We’re cutting into the edge of the forested area, clearing brush, and all of the small junky trees. The land has turned out to be a lot better than I expected, except there is one damp area. This is in June, and we have had a very dry spring / summer (I’m near Seattle). So it would probably be even wetter in a normal year. I was trying to think of a tree that I could plant – NOT in the pasture, but maybe a few feet away from the fence, in the wooded part, near the damp area. I’d like something that would develop a good root system and suck up that moisture.

I could put in another cedar (we have a lot in that area already) but I was exploring some more interesting options. When I went to the plant nursery today the guy suggested a bald cypress.

Now, at my boarding barn in Texas we had bald cypresses. I am familiar with those d*** “knees” and I know they are not horse friendly. But in my recollection, the knees only extended out a few feet from the trees. So if I planted the tree a few feet from the fenceline, I might not have a problem. What I’m wondering is, does anyone have experience otherwise? Where the roots and knees just kept spreading and spreading?

Alternately, does anyone have a recommendation for another tree that would suck up a lot of moisture? Something that is tree-like, not bush-like.

[SusanO]

I planted one in my front yard. It does not have knees but maybe because it is not a low lying wet area. I planted one in my pasture but the mowing guy mowed it down when it was small. Boy was I mad. I have some in pots which I plan to put on one side of a paddock because they grow fast and are so pretty in the fall. the horses did not eat the one that got mowed down (and it did not have knees) but maybe that was because the pasture is big and the beavers had not found it yet.

I did plant a weeping willow in a low spot but the horses thought it was very tasty. It did not survive the subsequent drought summers.

[Texarkana]

I rented a farm for about 3 years that had several bald cypress trees outside the pasture like you’re describing. No issues.

They were kneed varieties, but the knees did not extend into the pasture.

But I believe you can get cultivars without knees.

My horses did pick up a lot of their “needles” in their manes and tails when the trees shed them each fall. It wasn’t a problem, they combed right out, but the horses would look awfully funny covered in them!

[Annie10]

What about a river birch? They like to be wet and grow fast

[endlessclimb]

Or a sycamore/London planetree? They also enjoy wet feet.

[GraceLikeRain]

I’d recommend seeing what is native to your area. That gives it the best shot and plays an important role for the local ecology over introducing something non native.