Do I have to cut my dead leaves off my hostas?
by
Linda graf
+9
dead from over winter
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Its a good idea, it will also keep pests from making their homes in the dead leaves. Good luck!
I always do. The large leaves are a good hiding place for insects and can harbor plant disease. It also looks clean and fresh for the new growth.
For sure it is always best to eliminate future issues with insects and disease.
I never do, and my hostas are over ten years old; bloom every year; and have been divided 3 times.
your hosta bed will look nicer if the dead leaves are removed. if the leaves are removed from the ground small grey rodents have less places to hide.
My 30 year old hosta foundation bed. I always cut them back to the ground in late fall. Otherwise, mice tend to nest in them over the winter. I have never had and bugs or disease by cutting them back. I also NEVER use any chemicals in my yard.
They are not dead, just dormant. I never remove my leaves, and my plants are fine.
Your plants will look better if you get the old dead foliage out, and the others are correct that mice and rabbits may be happy to nest there if you don't. But my experience is that if you clean them up in the fall, cut the leaves off to about an inch or two and remove the debris. If you clean the beds in the late winter or early spring instead, you probably won't have to cut, you can just scoop the dried leaves up with your hands or rake them out. Freezing and being out in the winter weather makes them dry up, easy to remove. Cut with shears if you prefer.
I agree with all of the above. I have many clumps of hostas throughout my yard. The ones that are more visible during winter I cut off the dead, brown leaves to make them look better in the spring. The rest I don't cut. I see no real difference between the two options other than aesthetics.
I cut them off, they will never come back to life and detract from the colors of the hostas.
It is good for a plant to remove any dead or decaying stuff generally. It also allows for better air flow around the plant which will thank you in the spring with healthier growth.