How To Create a Hosta Garden

2 Materials
$100
2 Months
Medium

We have a group of trees in our front yard, that have not been touched since we moved in to our home. We would trim the weeds etc every so often but that was it. It’s rocky, shady and uneven and I had no desire to make anything of it.


A few years ago I stumbled on the American Hosta Society Facebook page and took a look around. People were showing off their amazing Hosta Gardens and I instantly knew I what I wanted to create in that shady tree area.

I have always had Hosta around our home. They’re so easy to care for and you can multiply them simply by spitting and transplanting them all around.

I knew getting this garden bed area ready to plant was going to be a lot of work but I was determined.

Creating a Hosta Garden Bed

I started off my marking the edges of my garden bed with orange spray paint so I knew where where I wanted to work within.

I did an initial raking of leaves and pulled some big weeds by hand.

But this ground needed prepping before we could start planting. I have used my STIHL Yard Boss for cultivating the soil when creating this garden bed, to aerate the yard and to edge the driveway.

I knew it would be up to the task of this neglected bed. I first had to change the attachments to the cultivating blades which is as simple as removing a pin and replacing the attachments.

After putting on my proper safety gear it was time to get started. I took my time to go slow because there are a lot of roots and rocks in our yard.

When I was finished with the Yard Boss I raked it our and it looked so much better.


For the plants I grabbed a few shade loving plants at my local nursery but for the Hosta I split and transferred ones I already had. I also put some of the Hosta and plants into pots. To give height variation. Also because it’s so hard to dig in our yard pots make it easy!

I added pavers to create a small path and then started looking for small rocks to edge the bed. I don’t have them all placed yet but I’ll get there.

This spot went from a neglected part of our yard where I never wanted to go to this beautiful garden and I can’t wait to see how it grows each year. ‘


Suggested materials:
  • Mulch   (Landscaping services)
  • Plants   (nursery)
Tara Boettger
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  • Shuganne Shuganne on Jul 22, 2022

    Where does the path go? Maybe place a small garden seat along the path, to enjoy the shade and to admire the fruits of your imagination and hard work. I love hostas, too, and your project is beautiful!

  • Rebecca Rebecca on Jul 27, 2022

    Very beautiful! What type of mulch did you use? I’m also curious about the “playful spirit” in the background?

  • Cj57 Cj57 on Aug 10, 2022

    I've been looking all over for a little cultivator like that (it's gas right?), what's the name brand or if you can send the model number that would be great! (If I have to order from the net).


    I'm in Ohio the only stores we have here a Lowe's, Homedepot, Menards and Tractor Supply.


    Thx.

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  • Thatsagoodidea Thatsagoodidea on Aug 16, 2022

    We tried adding several hostas around the area of our large shade tree but the tree pulls all the moisture from plants and anything else planted around regardless of how much water they receive and they all died. Hope you have better luck with yours. Looks nice

    • Aprile Aprile on Jul 18, 2023

      Try to add a border around the tree then fill in with soil and then plant your hostas; they don't have much of a root system so that should work. I did this around my tree and it was a success.

  • Jeff and/or Carolyn Jeff and/or Carolyn on Jul 18, 2023

    Hope you have better luck with your hosta garden than we have had. The deer LOVE hostas! They trimmed them right to the ground! I forgot to put out my Irish Spring soap bags.

    • Dana Dana on Jul 19, 2023

      I had that issue and planted lambs ear around the hostas and the deer hate it and don't eat them.

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