Saving my garden after a flood - help!

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Author Message   Lilcottageshoppe  My Weather Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 12:57 pm EST :    Hello all, 3 weeks ago, our town flooded, I live on a waterfront and the water in my yard was almost 3 feet high. My hydrangeas and roses were covered. Now, the water has receded, should I cut them all the way back to the ground? Any chance they will come back next year? Some of my roses still have green branches at the top that was not covered, but anything that was in the water for a long period of time has rotted. What would you do? Lilcottageshoppe - Illinois, Zone "5"   Gardenfiend  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 04:26 pm EST :    How did your house come through it? I thought it was a calamity when there was ankle-deep water in our basement... I can't even imagine what your flood must have done! There must have been serious (and expensive) damage! As for the roses in the garden: I think they will probably be OK. Since summer is pretty much over, I think you should just leave them as they are, and cut them back next spring. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Lovinlife  Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 04:28 pm EST :    The main thing would be to get some air to those roots. What I do after a heavy rain is to use a stake and poke holes near the roots all around my plants. I sure hope you can save them. Lovinlife - Utah, Zone "5"   Lilcottageshoppe  My Weather Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 05:03 pm EST :    My house was fine, it is very high. Another 6 inches and I would have been in trouble there, though I lost most all the inventory I have in my garage...I sell online, and not much is left. Poking holes...thank you! I will go do that now! Lilcottageshoppe - Illinois, Zone "5"   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 05:16 pm EST :    This is old but you should cut off anything that is rotten or cankered. Even if the ends of the branches are green, if the branch is rotten down lower, it will eventually kill the whole branch. If there are green healthy leaves at the tips though, I would let it go and see how it does. Even if the branch is doomed, the leaves will give some energy to the plant for new branches. Maybe it isn't as rotten as you thought. You can also cut into one branch and check the pith. If it's dark and brown, you are out of luck but if it is green and clear, you have a chance. Both roses and hydrangeas can die to the ground and come back. You will just have to wait and see. The problem with sitting under water is that the roots will eventually rot without oxygen. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Gardenbug  Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 06:44 pm EST :    My plants often are submerged in water with the spring thaw. They seem to return each year in spite of the horrible mess. You should be fine. Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"

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