Source
r/diynz•
mk44

Anyone with green fingers know if my Tarata (lemonwood) will grow back after flood damage?

https://imgur.com/a/W5rUjFZ

After the flooding all my Tarata have died off.

I live in quite a high clay loam - when I planted them a year ago I dug the holes the day before and noticed they filled up with rain water over night, so I think it has poor drainage. So I think this die back is a result of over watering.

Do you think they will grow back, or should I write them off? Do you have any recommendations for how to fix this area or a different hedgy bush I could plant here in a smaller hole which would like a high clay content?

Posted Feb 17, 2023, 8:58 PM UTC

36
punIn10ded•

Try r/nzgardening

4
mk44OP•

Cheers!

3
OutInTheBay•

Yes, all our natives are tuff

1
coconutyum•

While lemonwoods are typically hardy, they look pretty fkd sorry. If they did bounce back I think it would take a looong time. Personally, I'd just start again because they're fast growers (when healthy) and the nursery near us sells 50-60cm ones for $7.50.

Our backyard of clay gets flooded often. Our established lemonwoods there are doing well still. Our Manuka (2m tall Breed, can't remember name) and Oliver Twist Pittosporums are doing really well, despite the recent extra flooding, planted them a year ago. We planted them with some scoria underneath to help with drainage and slightly mounded. When you're certain it won't wash away, maybe top your garden with nutrient rich top soil.

1
Chch5•

They'll have wet roots, downside of clay. That said they may recover, give it 6 weeks and see. Suggest broad ground cover pinned down prior to rain

1
reddosaurusrexy•

You could try some Egmont Rootmate - once established they are pretty hardy but they can be picky to begin with and if root rot sets in it can be hard to recover from

1