Tree Plantings and Drainage

Just like turf, trees appreciate good drainage.  The pictures below show the effect of even a small difference in drainage.  The two trees were planted 50 feet apart.  The tree on the left was planted in rocky clay soil.  Not very good soil, but it was dry.  That tree is thriving.  When we dug the hole for the tree on the right, I remember a trickle of water coming up from the bottom.  After the tree was planted, we ran a drain line near it that I was hoping would help.  This dry year might actually do it some good.  The tree on the right might still make it, but the tree on the left is clearly more healthy.