whats already there ...

what is the soil structure..

what is the sun .. shade....

its not really an issue of STOPPING it from flooding.. its an issue of the soils drainage capacity ....

more info and some pix would really help ....

is this really a garden issue.. or a new homeowner issue .... think about that part ... is it a swamp back there??? or are you just not used to seeing standing water for a few hours??? days.. weeks.. months????

ken

Plants don't "soak up" excess water - some plants simply survive/thrive in wet conditions. When was the last time you saw a bunch of cattails drain a bog?

I would think about installing drainage tiles. Or do all your gardening on raised beds. You may need a professional to look at the problem. Al

Is there a downspout close by adding to the problem?

Well, actually this is at least one tree that will soak up excess water - the Eucalyptus Tree. In tropical countries, Eucalyptus trees are often planted in swampy areas to drain the water and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes. But I guess Ohio doesn't count as a tropical region, so this little bit of info is kind of useless.

Kevin

the garden and pathway floods every time it rains!

===>>>

those facts indicate to me that tiling is most likely not necessary .... as there is already a garden there..

what we have is a new owner who thinks something is wrong.. when what it might be is normal .. but for excessive rain ...

most likely.. next year you will be complaining that you wished it did rain more .... because as gardeners.. we all become farmers.. and we complain about everything ...

i guess the short answer is... dont over react based on one season in your new garden ...

so it would be back to my original posts and questions.. adding ... besides wet feet ... which would involve better garden boots ... what is failing ???? if the gardens not complaining.. then the garden is not the problem.. you are.. lol ..

i prefer muck boots ... because i hate being barefoot while working in the garden.. and i hate wet feet ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: the kind i like

My Clay Garden is at the bottom of a hill. When it rains the entire hill would GUSH all of it's water along with the downspout water right on top of the garden. What I did was create a canal that channels the water through the garden. Work's great.

What isn't known about the OP's situation would fill volumes...

...what other than rain contributes to the flooding? Type of soil or hardscaping, downspouts or runoff from neighbors?

...how much ponding is there really, and how long does it last once the rain stops?

I'm sure there's much more to consider; maybe the OP will come back and fill us in.

Ok..all i asked what a simple question, nobody has to be rude. You could of put no there are not any plants that do this. I'm new to gardening, I don't know what kind of soil i have or how good it is at draining water, that's why i asked the question in the first place? I know there a lot of factors that could contribute to this and i didn't provide a lot of info, but jeez, cut me some slack. And no, it's not a new homeowner's issue. Thanks for all the people that replied nicely, I appreciate it.

LOL - I don't think anybody was being rude - I think it is the time of year when gardeners are searching for something to talk about and gardens are pretty much on auto drive.

This topic seemed really interesting but with lack of info the carrot was dangling just in front of the answer.

jlk, I also don't think anyone meant to be rude. I think we are all just looking for more information before making suggestions. Especially since you mentioned that you recently moved into the house - sometimes it takes a full year to understand your sitution before you can make any moves to change or correct it.

So, if you could answer some more questions and/or give us some more information. How long have you lived there? And how long/how often have you noticed the flooding? Is it every single time it rains, or only after a hard rain? Does the water flow from somewhere (driveway, downspouts) or do you think the area is naturally wet and the rain exacerbates it?

You should test your soil and get to know it. That is a first step in understanding your garden. I hope I don't sound condescending - I can't tell from your post if you are a new gardener or have more experience. But knowing what kind of soil you have will also help us suggest plants or other solutions.

All that being said, I once posted asking for help with a very wet garden, and got lots of great ideas. Unfortunately, I've been searching for 10 minutes for that darn thread and can't find it. I'll post it when I do.

:)
Dee

I have an extensive area that floods during heavy rains and have used the following plant that can take periodic flooding especially during late winter/early spring.
Eupatorium 'Gateway'(Joe Pye), thalictrum dasycarpum, chelone (turtlehead), physostegia 'Variegata' (variegated obedient plant), veronicastrum 'Fascination', siberian iris 'Ceasar' Brother and 'Gulls Wings, veronica longlifolium, persicaria 'Firetail', euphorbia palustris, hibiscus moscheutos. Most of these are native and require at least 6 hourse of sun a day.