Surface drainage created adequate conditions for survival and growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on most sites within a wet lowland area. Successful pine establishment occurred on soils having loamy or sandy surface horizons and where original forest cover had been pine-hardwood or hardwood. On a lesser but significant number of sites, however, loblolly pine had unsatisfactory survival. Such problems were common where clay content of surface soil was high and the water table remained near the surface after ditch installation. In most cases, these conditions occurred on sites formerly occupied by cypress-hardwood timber. Planted sweetgum (Liquid ambar styraciflua L.) and baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) had better survival than loblolly pine on these sites. Guidelines for delineating such problem sites are given and management alternatives discussed.