Flooding – Good Plants Tolerate

Q: We have a cabin on the Cartecay River. It flooded last week. My hydrangeas, ferns, hostas, etc. are flattened from the flood water. Should I cut things back now or wait till later?

A: I’d use a hose to wash silt off everything and wait to see what happens. Many plants can tolerate occasional flooding. If your soil is quick to drain and dry, the plants may suffer no harm. I’d wait until next spring to do a final evaluation on their health. I have lots more information about recovering from flood damage inside and outside your home at http://www.walterreeves.com/how-to-archive/how-to-deal-with-flooding/.