How to Plant Cypress Trees Close to the Water

Select a planting site for a cypress tree on the edge of a body of water, such as a swamp. The soil should be acidic, meaning the pH of the soil should less than 7.0. The planting site should provide partial shade for young trees, although mature cypress trees prefer full sun.

Plant a cypress tree when it is dormant. The dormant season for this plant lasts from the fall to the early spring. You should also plant a cypress tree when the water is at its lowest level. This gives the cypress tree the best chance to establish its root system before subjecting it to standing water.

Dig a hole in the planting site where the soil is moist but does not have standing water. The hole must be large enough to accommodate the cypress tree's root ball without bending the roots.

Remove the tree from its nursery container and place it in the hole. Adjust the position of the cypress tree so that the tree's soil line is at or slightly below the level of the soil. Fill the hole with soil and water thoroughly to remove any air pockets in the soil.

Provide the cypress tree with supplemental water only if necessary to keep the soil from completely drying out. Standing water is generally a greater danger to a young cypress tree than drought.