I purchased a ¾ acre lot (125 x 260 feet) 6 years ago with a similar slope and woods on the back half. The front of the house is at street level but the back of the house is about 3 feet above grade. The lot continues to slope down another 2 feet to the back property line. During construction, I discovered the back half of the lot flooded with over 3 feet of water that remained all winter. The developer graded the subdivision but did not grade the woods. (I wouldn’t have any trees if he had.) I was left with what the locals call a frog pond. I tried adding about a dozen loads of sand to the lowest areas but I was afraid I would smother the trees if I added too much. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the developer to help I called the county board of supervisors. The county engineer was called in to inspect and the developer was “encouraged” to assist me. Luckily, the drainage ditch at the front of the property was about 5 feet deep and the developer was able to install 200 feet of 15 inch culverts from the drainage ditch to the back yard. The slope is only about 1-1/2 feet for the 200 foot length but it is enough to allow the yard to drain. It’s not perfect, when we have a lot of rain the yard holds about 10 inches of water for a day but the trees get plenty of water that way. I built a cinder block catch basin and had someone dig a shallow trench with a ditch witch from the middle of the backyard to the catch basin near the property line. I make sure the culvert doesn’t get blocked with sticks/leaves after a storm and I clean out the trench about once a year.

Hi Rae. I'm afraid I have to concur with most of the other people you've talked to. I bought 'Limerock Ruby' and 'Limerock Passion' Coreopsis two years in a row and they died each year. One year they were planted in full sun. So the second year I tried Part sun. Neither worked. I planted mine in a bed which is a large mound (about 5 feet diameter and 2 feet high at the center. Soil is good and water drains well in this bed so I don't think drainage or staying too damp was the issue. The plant was mulched in summer and winter. Don't know if this hurt it or helped it but I am not buying either one again. Maybe someone else has had better luck though. Hope that helped. Sincerely, Squirrellypete

I planted 10 about 7 years ago, and I lost them one by one until I only have one for the last few years. It grows and flowers every year, but with only one flower stalk, even though it now has two crowns. I have considered it a learning experience, and if I was really thrilled with the flower I would plant some more. I have learned it is not planted very deep, and it likes soil with lots of compost. The roots extend about three feet horizontal in all directions, about 2 to 3 inches deep. It does not like to go dry. It is not drought tolerant. Be very careful about cultivation or you will damage the roots and lose the plant. Disease or pests do not seem to be a problem. Al

I spent the day digging out most of my David Austins. They all died from the flooding. I haven't got them all out yet.... It is very sad. Some of them I did know their names so they will be hard to replace..... as I said I had two Beverly's in that same section. For information purposes, one died and the other one is still going.... don't know how long it will live..... The older Beverly is the one that made it... the younger one died along with the the David Austins. It is ironic because the older Beverly sat longer and in deeper water..... but for some reason it handled it better. As I am digging, I notice a foul odor from the ground. I am not sure if that is from the brackish water, or from decaying roots. My load of horse manure showed up, After I get the Austins out, I will pile it deep and high. I think I may let that section sit fallow for a year.... or at least until spring. Hopefully the manure will break down and give me some good dirt there. I also lost all of my old garden roses. Not sure I will replace those. I lost all but five HT's..... I feel roseless..... I have someone coming over to look at everything. I am so overwhelmed. I think I need to raise a bed. I think for the HT's if I keep them where I have them I will have to cut back and give each rose a raised bed instead of a whole raised bed for the HT's, because if I raise the whole thing the water coming off the roof will be forced into the patio.... I need the water to be able to pass and go out into the yard. But I don't know how big each "personal" bed should be for a rose. The roses I get are normally on fortunina and they put their roots out not down, so if they are contained will they be unhappy?