Is it dead

9 years ago

I have a small area in my front yard that a passing delivery truck ran right over! He ran over three hostas. All of them were scrunched but I tried to get them standing tall again.. they already had a little sun burn but now they look like this ! What do I do?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

Not dead at all......just a little abused :-) IME, hostas can tolerate a great deal of abuse. I have seem them with not a single leaf remaining due to deer or bunnies; leaves mangled beyond recognition from slugs and snails; flattened by careless house painters and more brown and dry than green from lack of water. But they all come back strong again the following season.

Just tend yours as though it had not had a close encounter with a delivery truck. I am almost certain it will be fine :-)) And maybe consider placing a boulder or something in the area that might deter this from happening again.

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Comments (6)

Babka NorCal 9b
9 years ago
I agree with Gardengal. Do nothing and they will use what they have left to help store energy for next Spring. Get a BIG ROCK!

-Babka
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brucebanyaihsta
9 years ago
Donothing is not allowed: get out there and love on it and watch it respond: talk to it softly, water it in the evenings, scratch its neck a bit, TLC!!!
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
9 years ago
LOL Bruce...but I definitely would tell it it will be alright, having suffered such indignity as tire marks on it! Gasp! Gardengal's recommendation for a deterrent such as a large rock(s) or boulder is a good one.
dhaven
9 years ago
Bruce is spot on about some extra water. But do not use fertilizer, it's too late in the season. Next year you an add some compost around the plant, or fertilize lightly, and it should do just fine.

Boulders are good, caltrops are better (but I've been told more than once that I'm a bit too bloody minded).
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Paradise Alcove LLC
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I would be angry and mouth agape shock to see my hostas flattened by any vehicle tire that went off-road. Sheesh such carelessness! What next, a mowed down mailbox? So, yes agree to BIG rock.

Although Bruce's advice makes sense to me, I laughed out loud when I read Bruce scratch it's neck a bit and about dhaven bloody mindedness. (Thanks for the chuckles!)

Bsmith, sorry it happened to your garden bed, but luckily the crown and roots were not maimed. Whatever doesn't kill them, may with TLC help them to return next year stronger.

( Edited that after posting I read this link now understand Neck scratching, http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4813655/hosta-planted-too-deep?n=6)