Before you decide which species of tree to plant, it is very important to know how well your soil drains internally.
Dig a hole that is one foot square and one foot deep. Fill it with water and leave it overnight to drain.
Fill the hole with water again the next morning, and measure the level drop per hour. Setting a ruler into the hole and checking the drop hourly is one method.
A 1″-3″ drop per hour is acceptable, while a 2″ drop per hour is ideal.
If less than 1″ per hour, soil is considered to be poorly drained.
If you discover that your soil is poorly drained, choose a tree that will tolerate poorly drained soils.
Another option is to “plant high” on a berm that extends out five feet for every six inches it is raised, tapering down gradually to the existing grade.