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.

[JB]

please consider a native tree
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjJudbuwoCOAxWiSzABHQCtOgQQmuEJegQINBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wnps.org%2Ffiles%2F147%2FPlant-Lists-by-Habitat%2F585%2FPlants-for-Wet-Areas.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2rzmLKheOxGQL5TpE2hjFt&opi=89978449

I wish this was a PDF that was online without having to download to see, but it’s not. It’s linked somewhere in this site but I couldn’t find it quickly

Drawing Alpine Wildflowers from Photographs

[tabula_rashah]

I’m not familiar with that area so no recommendations as far as native trees
But as far as cypress knees- bald cypress that are planted where they won’t generally ever be in standing water don’t usually develop the big above ground “knees”

[PonyRiderMom]

Except for food, everything I’ve planted since I’ve been here has been a native. I have also worked to remove invasive non-native plants. So, I feel like I have a bunch of “ecology points” that I can spend on buying one measly non-native tree if I want.

Having said that, I’m also looking at Western Hemlock. The thing with the cedars is that we have so many – I want something different and I DON’T want more alders. Nature designed alders to grow up weak and fall on fences.

[SusanO]

Is a western hemlock poisonous if ingested by equines? Just asking because our horses do not always make the smartest decisions.

[tabula_rashah]

Nope, true hemlocks are trees (Tsuga canadensis and heterphylla ) and are not toxic
Poison hemlock and water hemlock are the species that are perennial/ biennial herbaceous toxic plants

[JB]

@PonyRiderMom

Except for food, everything I’ve planted since I’ve been here has been a native. I have also worked to remove invasive non-native plants. So, I feel like I have a bunch of “ecology points” that I can spend on buying one measly non-native tree if I want.

Fair point, not one that anyone knew. It’s amazing how many people never consider the roles that native plants play, much less the roles that non-natives play

As long as a non-native choice isn’t also invasive, then go for it.

[ThreeWishes]

I adore sycamore trees. The peeling bark. The great big leaves. Planted one in my barnyard. Away from the pasture. Then a friend told me they are toxic to horses.
https://www.bwequinevets.co.uk/amp/article/1/Atypical-Myopathy-Sycamore-Poisoning/
Thankfully it’s away from the pasture.

[endlessclimb]

I didn’t know that, thank you for sharing. I love them too, that giant sprawling canopy and giant leaves!

[PonyRiderMom]

I’m coming to believe that (1) everything is toxic to horses and (2) horses eat toxic things all the time and don’t die, so maybe it isn’t that big of a deal.

[ThreeWishes]

Same! My absolute favorite tree. Ahhh well.

[ThreeWishes]

I think there are things that are extremely toxic even in small amounts… and there are also things that horses will not touch unless they have nothing else left to eat. I.e. they’re starving. have no pasture…. But there are certain plants that are toxic, as can be. Oleander for instance. I generally try to always look for any of the bushes or flowers or plants I plant in the barnyard or around the field. The one time I got a present from my husband he bought me a sycamore tree. Lol because he knew I love them thankfully I planted it away from the horses.

[SusanO]

Wilted red maple leaves are very toxic to horses but I have not run out with my chainsaw to cut the maples down that are growing in the bottomlands in my pasture. There is so much grass in that pasture and, in the winter, I feed so much hay that nobody braves the gnats and mosquitoes to go down there and munch on them. If the horses were in a dry lot I might worry. Red maples are pretty plentiful in this area and I do not know of any horses around here that have been poisoned. Now Oleander - that is something I would never plant here.

[jvanrens]

A friend of mine lost her lovely mare to red maple poisoning. It’s a nasty way for them to suffer. Fortunately the vet diagnosed her and euthanized her.

[Annie10]

I’m in FL and i Know of some who have died from red maple poisoning as well. Usually it happens after a hurricane or bad storm when branches have blown down and not been removed, coupled with insufficient other forage whether hay or pasture. So they eat the leaves. I have a couple in my pasture too and mine dont mess with them at all, but then i have carefully managed decent grass and I feed a ton of hay.