How soon in spring can we transplant plants like hostas?

https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/transplanting-hostas

Have they started to show new green leaves yet? Mine in NJ are just beginning. I'd say you can transplant/divide them when you can "work the soil". It should not be freezing and too wet to work. Hostas are tough. I once planted a bunch that a neighbor dug up and left on his driveway for a couple of days.

You can transplant hostas as soon as they start growing and there is no chance of a heavy frost. You can even transplant them later in the summer but spring is the best to give the plants a chance to establish their root system.

Hostas are best transplanted in the fall but if you want to transplant them in the spring it is best to do it as soon as the soil can be worked up until they start coming up. Summer time is possible but not the best.

when shoots are showing but not leafed out

Hostas are best transplanted either in spring or fall. Once the leaves are dead in the fall, weed whack the hostas down to the base. Divide the plant and transplant where you want. I found that the hostas come back in the spring fuller. Don't forget that they are rhizomes and spread on their own and can take over a garden bed.

since we have had an irregular spring...things started showing early...them got cold again...the ground is still quite cold...It is suppose to be nicer this week...I would wait till next weekend at least. Don't need to be in a real hurry yet...just as long as they do not leaf out...at that time it will shock them to move them. They also can be divided in the fall..late in season before it is to cold again...