I’m sorry to hear this, north. I see stories like this on the news... and saw a house with that kind of damage down the street one time. What a bummer! I agree with popmama- if it’s safe, and if you’re inclined to dig them up and move them, I’d go for it. Think of it as an opportunity to make a fresh new garden.

How does a vehicle hit a house hard enough to cause structural damage and be able to "run" away??? Yikes!

I would get out the shovel and dig up your favorites and plop them in the ground out of the way for winter. Isn't it winter there already in zone 2b? If you get a nice mass of roots, they will be fine. Heck, if you just put them in a ditch and healed them in they would probably survive. Worry about replanting them next spring. So sorry for you situation.

-Babka

Yup, what Babka said. And maybe a nice boulder or two strategically and decoratively placed in the yard. Wonder how they managed to drive away.

I also agree with all the comments above:

After the assessor comes to view the damage and give the quote (please be seated during that time-I cringe at the thought of your out of pocket cost for someone's reckless driving.)... and if it does need excavation...

then yes dig up the area saving what you can of the hosta clumps, Solomon seal tubers and the other root balls.

As Babka, said heel them into a makeshift bed for the winter (no need to be pretty about it for the time being- they can be sorted out in the Spring).

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/heeling-in-plants.htm

As popmama and windymess said, do this ONLY if it is safe for you to poke around the area. Preserving your health and safety is worth more than preserving a garden.

And 100% on Madplanter's idea of a few boulders strategically placed and landscaped into the yard as a buffer (a guard wall even!) to prevent any other drive through's.

What a mess to your house and you had recently done some updates, too, ugh! Yet, looking at the big picture I am glad that no one was hurt.

It does leave me wondering like everyone else- how does a car plow into a house and just drive away??!

There must be some car parts broken off that police can investigate the damage done to your house (not to mention the yard) and find the driver.

Accidents happen... and I would be in shock, but I would also be infuriated that the person/vehicle fled the scene. So, I am very sorry this happened to you, but relieved that at least no one at your house was injured.

My house is unfortunately located at the end of a street. If you don't turn left or right, you're in my yard. He had to hit the curb, drive right through a full half barrel and then plow into the house. The basement wall is bulged in, so I don't know how it can be repaired.

you are correct Babka, winter is coming fast so I can't wait very long to act.

Thankyou, Madplanter, the boulder is a good idea. We have had vehicles land in our yard on other occasions, though this is the first one to hit the house. The guy was probably drunk.

Sorry to hear this happened to you and to your house. So frustrating to have to deal with other people's screw ups. I hope your insurance co. will be a big help to make things right again ....without punishing you later.

It depends on how you feel about going out and digging around that area. You could leave it to chance and see how it shakes out in the spring.

I just had sprinkler work done, which is nowhere near as upsetting as what happened to you, but who knew (not me!) that they would dig up and bury so many plants. I've had to attempt rescues after the fact, and I still can't find my H. Little Miss Sunshine or H. Rare Treat. :-( So if you might miss those nice, big hostas of yours, it's worth potting up or moving them before any work starts.

A house around the corner from me with the same situation as yours had a car in their living room twice! It was a good thing no one was sleeping on the couch at 2:00am. Three huge boulders were placed in the yard, no more cars in the house. However that was around 20 years ago. New owners now and the boulders are gone, oh well, time will tell. I hope your repairs are done soon, glad no one was hurt!

Sherry

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

But ask yourself how badly you want those plants and want to save them. All the advice for saving them above is good advice, but if you do not need the work or the stress right now, then just worry about your garden later. As you said, the plants are common, so they can be replaced easily later.

Also, consider asking select friends and neighbours for pieces of their best hosta. Although most gardeners become reluctant to divide big, beautiful specimen, I think many gardeners would be happy to donate something special.

So save them if you want to, if it makes you feel like you are moving forward, or if they have sentimental value. But if you do not care, or need the stress right now, just let them go. Gardens change.

they are hosta... dig them up and throw them on the driveway for winter ... or in the veg garden.. or in the backyard somewhere ...

just do something to make yourself happy when life overwhelms ....

in a year or 3.. you will look at your hosta.. and barely remember what you are going thru now ... and you might think to yourself... my hosta made me happy ...

ken

We had this happen to us years ago--a guy drove down the side of our house and then suddenly made a right turn into our living room. Fortunately for us, he didn't hit the corner or collapse the basement for us. He destroyed several good pieces of furniture, china and other valuables. It took months to get the house back in shape. We had issues with the siding, it should match the rest of the house--don't let them just do a patch job. We also had to wait for new crown molding in the living room because of course it had to match the rest of the room. There's no end in sight when you have problems like this--our guy had to be taken to the hospital--but he called me that night to joke about it, ha ha ha they tell me I was in your living room, he said. The huge viburnums that we had on that side of the house are now back to their original height after being sheared down to a foot by his car. Just remember to take it easy and carefully review every proposed repair--we have a very good homeowners policy but we had to go over everything to make certain that it was being well done--3 days at home watching a painter paint a wall for instance--yes 3 afternoons since he couldn't get the job done right.

We just had the insurance adjuster here today. He has arranged to have a contractor come to inspect the damage. He said there is a provision to have the work qualify for emergency measures due to the time of year and the rapid approach of winter.

I will wait to see what the contractor says before I decide if I have to relocate the plants. But it's darn cold today and I have a thousand other things to do anyway.

I want to thank everyone for the thoughtful and helpful responses. I appreciate you all taking the time to share your experiences and advice.

Well the verdict is that the area definitely has to be dug out to repair the wall. So since it's a lovely day today, I decided to tackle moving the plants. I'm afraid this was not a carefully done job. I did not take the time to sterilize my garden fork. But these are old hosta and probably disease free.

Here they are nestled into their winter home. They look remarkably undamaged considering a car drove through them. Only one had a tire go right over it.

Good job moving them! No tire treads will keep them down. Too bad your house suffered. I wish you good luck with that part of it.