Asked on Jun 13, 2017

How can I get hostas regrow their leaves after deer have eaten most .

Jjg7368827
by Jjg7368827
  9 answers
  • Cindy Cindy on Jun 13, 2017

    There's still hope as long as you still have the root systems. I would cut whatever the deer left down to the ground. You won't see any growth this year but next year you should see them peeking up next spring. Cover the root systems before first frost. Use mulch or grass clippings or straw. Hope this helps. Good luck.

  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Jun 13, 2017

    I have some hostas planted in pots and then put them in the ground. The rabbits eat the leaves and the stem, they will grow back. The only thing that will completely kill a hosta is a vole, they eat all the roots and leave the leaves and stems in tack, they eventually turn yellow and that is the death of a hosta.

  • Shannon Shannon on Jun 13, 2017

    Once the leaves are gone, they are gone until next year. I know because the deer have eaten mine in the past.

  • Judy Judy on Jun 13, 2017

    Plant some Mary Golds around the hostas, and use some Moth Balls, as well. No more problems. All Animals HATE the smell of a Mary Gold, and won't bother you. Also, you may want to add some fresh soil, in your pot of the hostas, and nature will allow the new leaves to grow, just fine. You may want to raise this pot higher higher, to avoid any other visitor. J.

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Jun 13, 2017

    Yes - and you can prevent deer in the future with soap shavings

  • Bam24686315 Bam24686315 on Jun 14, 2017

    I keep deer out of my garden using rosemary plants. They do not like it and have not bothered the garden since. Because rosemary can get quite large you may want to use it in pots or keep trimmed to a small size.

  • Anita Kronk Anita Kronk on Jul 10, 2018

    Deer not only mowed my hostas down, but took out the marigolds in front of them as well.


    Will be planting helleborous, astilbe, and coral bells in and around them in hopes to keep deer out next season. Helleborous are poisonous to them and astilbe are fuzzy. Coral bells are supposed to be resistant so we'll see if any of these help. Daffodils amid tulips have proven to be good around here, but the daffodils foliage does not stay being spring.

  • Anita Kronk Anita Kronk on Jul 10, 2018

    Correction to above...

    Beyond spring, not being spring.

  • Bob Bob on Apr 22, 2020

    Thanks. Although this is depressing to hear, since the deer got my hostas in April. No leaves all summer now. :-(