Hail Damage to Butterfly Garden

14 years ago

A very large hail storm just moved thru OKC and surrounding areas of central Oklahoma, pelting us with golf ball to baseball size hail in rapid succession. I have been in hail storms before, but nothing like this one. I've only sustained one broken window, but the butterfly garden is in fairly bad shape. Lots of broken stems, lots of work to do tomorrow to clean up the garden. The sound was pretty awful - sounded like somebody let loose with an automatic rifle. The cats ran for cover under the bed. They have never done that. Haven't even checked the back yard yet. Will do so tomorrow.

Lisa, if you check in here, how did you fare in the Village? I was thinking of you.

My False Nettle took a big beating and only a few stems are still standing. Same with the Monarda, the Hops vine, milkweed, Fennel, Hibiscus, Liatris, lots of seedlings, Ptelea trifoliata, Asters, Butterfly Bushes, Joe Pye Weed, Pipevine, Verbena bonariensis, Plantago, Dianthus, all are damaged.

I am sure all of the the plants will probably come back, but it's gonna take a while. Other than that, everyone okay, but I would have hated being out on the road in this stuff.

Susan

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Comments (8)

bananasinohio
14 years ago
So sorry Susan! You need a break from all this bad weather in OK. Let us know if you need to replace anything. I am sure someone on this board would have anything you need.
Stay safe,
Elisabeth
MissSherry
14 years ago
Oh no! And this was such a big butterfly year for you!
Actually, things grow back amazingly fast, so I'm sure your garden will mend itself quickly.
I'm sure sorry, though - 'makes you want to throw up your hands, doesn't it?
Sherry
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I am sorry to hear about the damage to your garden. Onions normally will make a pretty good recovery from hail, though it depends on how large they were when hit. My onions have been hit several times over the years, and most of the time they have made a decent recovery. Sometimes most of them recover and a few bolt a week or two after the hailstorm. Sometimes they all recover and the damage doesn't even seriously impact the size of the onions. Sometimes it is a real mixed bag with some that bolt, some that do just fine and some that don't bolt and don't die, but just stall and sit there and don't really do much growth after the storm. Most years, though, from hail damage in mid-spring, the impact on the overall harvest was minimal. The timing of the hail plays a role in whether or not they recover. As far as timing goes, the timing of this specific hail storm is pretty decent. Your onions have been in the ground long enough by now that they should have enough stored energy to recover, yet they are not already bulbing up with their shoulder protruding from the ground, which is a terrible time to be hit by hail because if the upper portion of the bulb above ground is badly bruised, disease can set in and the onions can rot. So, count your blessings you had April hail instead of March hail or late May or June hail Because your onions have to expend energy on the recovery process, the bulbs they produce might be smaller than they would have been if the hail hadn't harmed them, but at least you still have onions when that happens. What I usually do is gently straighten up the ones that are knocked sideways and pat down the soil around them to help hold them upright. I remove badly broken foliage left hanging by a thread. If there are lots of leaf wounds, I'll spray with a fungicide in an effort to prevent fungal disease from making entry through the wounds in the foliage. They usually start putting out new leaves within a few days of the hailstorm. Red onions seem more resilient than white and yellow ones, but I've grown Texas 1015Ys almost every year since they were released in..well...whenever it was...I guess the 1980s and they are very strong survivors so don't count them out. It is too bad you're having such a difficult spring there. While it has been challenging to get planting done in between thunderstorms, and it has been hard to keep everything from freezing during our once-a-week cold front with sub-freezing temperatures, our garden is having a great run with the cool-season crops. The warm-season crops, though, are barely in the ground and I don't know how they'll do since many have gone in later than I like. Gardening in Oklahoma is always challenging. It is always something....hail, sleet, snow, microbursts, tornadoes, the early onset of summer heat in spring, recurring cold weather deep in spring, and hail, hail, hail. We all just do the best we can to help our gardens endure whatever Ma Nature tosses at them. I hope your plants make a good recovery. Dawn
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susanlynne48
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, it is very frustrating after all the hard work we put into our gardens, MissSherry! And, you of all people, know that first hand, after being thru all the hurricanes, in much worse shape than what is happening to my BF garden.

I guess it is just that my gardening days are quite numbered due to health issues, and I had really put a lot into this year's garden, more than the last several years. I don't move around as well, for as long a time due to several osteoarthritis in my spine, hips, knees, and feet. If it weren't for the butterflies and my butterfly friends, I don't know that I could hang in there as well as I have. So, yes, it is difficult to try to recover what I have left, and hoping beyond hope that I have the energy to do it.

Elisabeth, you are too kind, and yes, we do need a break.

I just toured the backyard and lots of damage. My Hostas are done for the year for sure, but the pipevine seems relatively good back there, the Elderberries which are about to be in full bloom are pretty bad off, my Jacks (Arisaema) are destroyed for the year, as is my big Oakleaf Hydrangea and my Grecian Urn plant. The Rue looks pretty good, meaning it is a really tough plant, thank goodness. I will rely on it if I get BSTs until the Fennel revives.

I was growing Kenna's little strawberries in a big saucer pot, and it broke apart. Poor baby - we just harvested some strawberries this morning. My neighbors have sustained quite a bit of damage, too. But, we will get thru this. I have never seen such a hail storm in my entire life. Jessi's dad lost all his tomatoes and peppers and the windows in the front of his house were broken, along with damage to his truck. So I fared pretty well compared to others.

I'm wondering how Lisa did - it was pretty bad in her area. Hope she checks in soon.

Susan
butterflymomok
14 years ago
Susan,

How terrible! I didn't know about the hailstorm until I just read your posting. I had some shredded leaves this week after the storm came through on Thursday morning, but nothing like you are describing. If I can help in any way, let me know. I'm coming to OKC this week to check on Mom. My sister told me today Mom isn't doing well. I'll see if I can schedule to come by your house. I've got some new babies on my Pearly Everlastings!

Everything will come back better than ever, as the plants have now been "pruned", but waiting for that to happen is not easy. Will call when I know which day I'm coming. What are we going to do with this Oklahoma weather?

Sandy
MissSherry
14 years ago
I can't imagine the impact of such huge hail!
I've only seen hail bigger than petit bois peas once, and it was about the size of dimes. I was amazed at the velocity and force of this dime size hail - baseball size hail must REALLY hit with force!!
Sherry
susanlynne48
Original Author
14 years ago
I heard this morning lots of damage to old churches with broken stained glass windows; one church with tiled roof completely demolished and broken tiles everywhere. The Walmart Supercenter just 6 blocks away from me at Belle Isle is closed due to severe damage.
They talked about damage to trees and plants this morning on the news, and were telling people that many plants should just be replaced in order to keep the garden free of disease and insect damage, which the plants are now vulnerable to. You have to be kidding me! It would take hundreds if not thousands of dollars to replace many of my things.

There were hail drifts up to 18 inches, and on one highway hail had clogged the gutters causing flooding.

I just checked again and the wood siding on the eave on the front of my house has big chunks missing, and my cute little wooden carved house numbers are now missing 3 of the 4 numbers. Not a big deal, I know, but I am sure the roof has been hit as well.

I could turn the garden into a miniature golf course as there are golf ball size depressions in the soil - it looks so funny! Someone might think it is an invasion of Prairie Dogs, LOL!

There are cars that the hail actually hit so hard it punctured huge holes in the bodywork. Look like they've been shot with a missile launcher.

Sandy, thanks for your words of encouragement, and I hope I can pull off this clean up.

I think the Pipevine eggs and any remaining Red Admiral eggs may be gone, too. Will check them this morning, but both my A. tomentosa and A. clematitis are pretty much damaged beyond repair at the moment. They'll probably come back, but it will take awhile. The A. macrophylla is fine.

Off to start my garden housekeeping!

Susan
bananasinohio
14 years ago
Family legend says my great uncle was knocked out by baseball hail when he was checking on animals in the barn, during a storm in North Dakota. Serious stuff.
Sending some extra sunshine your way,
Elisabeth
Lisa_H OK
14 years ago
Susan, I think the hail must have been worse over by you. Moni was at the BI Library and lost a window.

Mine was bad enough though! I had golf ball sized hail, but more marble and pea size. (I posted pics in the OK forum). I didn't have any outright damage to the house or car, but the garden did take a little bit of a beating. I was surprised not to see more damage there. The wind and driving rain was really hard. The trees were shredded around here.

I'm so sorry about all your damage, is there anything I can do to help?

Lisa

Hail Damage to Butterfly Garden

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