How do I care for my Hosta plants?

Kim
by Kim

I am requesting your help. I planted hosta plants 3 days ago, they are in a little bit of morning sun, and then the rest of the day it is shady. The leaves are starting to have brown tips on them. What can I do to save these plants? I had the same problem last year, but I thought maybe I had over watered them. Last years plants did not come back up. Thanks for your help.

  2 answers
  • Heje Heje on Apr 10, 2019

    It sounds like the soil needs to be tested by a county agency.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Apr 10, 2019

    Light: While Hostas are known as shade lovers, the best light conditions for growth is dappled light for much of the day. Yellow and gold varieties actually benefit from 2 to 3 hours of morning sun for the best color.

    Soil Conditions: Hostas can survive in a wide range of soils but prefer a rich, moist soil, high in organic matter.

    Correct Spacing: Depending the variety, space plants 1 to 4 feet apart. Planting closer with allow the plants to fill in faster creating a ground cover of hosta.

    Timing (planting): Plant hostas anytime during the growing season. In the North, spring is best to allow plants to get established before summer. In the South, fall is a good time because of the cooler weather. Planting in summer is possible, but plants will need more water than normal to survive the heat.


    How to Grow Hostas Throughout the Season


    Growth Habit: Hostas grow from 4 inches to 5 feet wide. The plant heights can vary from 4 inches to 3 feet tall with flower scapes potentially reaching another few feet above the foliage when in bloom. The leaves range from narrow to almost rounded with varying degrees of serration and ribbing.

    Staking: Hostas are a bushy plant and don't need staking

    Watering: Since most hosta varieties have large leaves that transpire moisture readily, watering is critical. Keep young plants well watered and water established plants with at least 1 inch of water a week. Particular attention should be paid to hostas in dry shade (ie: under trees). Extra water may be needed to keep hostas growing strong while competing with trees.

    Our hostas ship bare-root, and likely will look similar to this. Expect a vibrant, light, healthy root system.

    The crown of the plant should rest just at or above the soil surface once watered in.

    Fertilizing: Fertilize hosta in spring with a 2-inch thick layer of compost and an all-purpose organic product such as 5-5-5 based on a soil test. Don't get granular fertilizer on the leaves and stuck in leaf crotches or it can burn the leaves.

    Deadheading/ Trimming/ Pruning: Deadhead spent flower scapes in summer and early fall after blooms have faded. This will not only make the bed neater, it will prevent seeds from forming that will take energy away from the hosta plant.Some gardeners grow hostas just for the leaves and will cut out flower scapes before they bloom. That's a personal preference. Hostas need little trimming and shaping since they naturally have an attractive rounded plant form. Remove any yellow or damaged leaves in summer as needed.

    In fall as the leaves yellow, cut back the plants to the ground and compost the leaves. This will reduce the number of insects and diseases around hostas and allow you to weed between plants easier.

    Mulching: Since hosta like evenly moist soil high in organic matter, mulch around young plants or in newly planted beds with a 2-inch thick layer of bark mulch in spring. Not only will this keep the soil cool and moist, but will help prevent weeds from getting established.Once established, a mature hosta patch may not need mulch or more than one spring weeding since the large leaves will shade the soil keeping it cool and moist and prevent weeds from germinating.

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    • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Apr 10, 2019

      just give them some water soluble miracle grow good for any plants no need to test soil , in late fall after they have completely died back put some really good organic compost over them chicken poop is really good too see if anyone in your area has chickens see if you can buy some the older the better(maybe they will just give it to you).Horse,goat,llama,deer,rabbit,guinea pig are all great compost as long as their feed is just good grains/grasses; redworm & bat poop really the best. You can also buy these all. Jobes bagged organic fertilizer is good too