Hostas, belonging to the Liliaceae family, are very simple evergreen plants to care for, perfect for filling your summer garden. They grow outdoors and in the shade and can reach heights ranging from 5cm to 1.20m, with leaves that can be smooth or wrinkled, blue or pink and dull or shiny. If you want to learn how to grow beautiful and healthy hostas in your garden, keep reading this article.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Plant the Hostas
Step 1. Choose a place to plant them
Hostas grow very well in slightly shady areas, so it may be a good choice to plant them under larger trees or near tall plants in your garden. They need soil that filters water well and remains evenly moist. The type of host you choose to plant will influence your decision as to where to plant it; if your hosta can get tall enough, be sure to put it somewhere where it will continue to stay in the shade even as it grows older and outstrips the plants around it.
- Since hostas 'roots are more powerful than weeds' roots and can overwhelm them, these plants can be used to get rid of them. If you use them for this purpose, however, you must first make sure that the place where you plant them is quite shady.
- Also make sure that the place where you plant them is not too windy. Choose a place that is sheltered from winds that exceed 50 km / h.
Step 2. Plant hostas in the spring
Plant them in early spring, after the last frost, give them time to take root and grow a little before the hottest months of summer arrive.
Step 3. Prepare the soil for planting
Hostas grow well in many types of climates and with various types of soil, but do best if the earth is moist enough and slightly acidic. Prepare the planting site by using a rake or hoe to soften the soil up to about 30cm deep, then add some fertilizer or compost. Doing so will enrich the soil and help hostas thrive in multiple types of climatic conditions.
Step 4. Make holes for the hostas
The hostas must be planted deeply in order to bury all the roots, while the width of the hole must be double the width of the latter. Each hole must be at least 30 and maximum 90 cm away from the next, depending on the type of host you are planting.
Step 5. Plant the hostas
Place the hostas in the holes so that the top of the root is level with the surface. Fill the hole with soil and gently tap the soil at the base of the plants to level it. Then water the hostas.
Part 2 of 2: Curing the Hostas
Step 1. Water them frequently
Hostas will wilt and turn brown if the soil gets too dry, so be sure to water them enough to leave the soil moist. Water the hostas under the foliage, at the base, to avoid burning the leaves in the sun.
- Watering the hostas in the morning will help keep them well hydrated during the hottest times of the day in the summer.
- You can sprinkle some mulch around the bases of the hostas to help the soil stay moist.
Step 2. Prune the hostas after the first frost
Hostas don't stay green all winter, so after the first freeze of fall, you'll probably want to prune them a little - otherwise they'll look dry and dying all season. Use pruning shears or scissors to cut them to a height of about 5 cm. They will grow back in the spring.
You can also cut the flowers. Pruning them as they bloom or once they wilt is your choice
Step 3. Compost the soil in the spring
At the start of the season, help regrow hostas by adding compost to the soil. Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture. Water the area evenly to help hostas grow again.
Step 4. Divide the hostas after 3 or 4 years
Hostas last a long time, and are easy to divide to give to friends or to plant in other areas of your garden. To divide a host, remove it from the ground and separate a few stems and their roots from the main part of the plant. It is best to do this in early spring, when the leaves are still curled, but if the plants are doing well, you can do it at any time during the summer.
This is to maintain the overall quality of your Hostas and allows you to double the number easily
Step 5. Protect your Hostas from parasites
Hostas are very popular with deer, snails and snails; if there are many of these animals in the area where you live, take precautions to protect them from these species.
- To keep deer away, build a fence or plant other types of plants they are fond of some distance from the hostas.
- Many gardeners think that placing shallow bowls of beer around hostas is a good way to keep snails away.
- Eliminate the Oziorinco of the vine with an insecticidal soap.
- Prevent nematodes by removing or drying foliage that is too wet. If you notice any nematodes, which look like round worms and feed on the leaves, remove the affected plants and destroy them.
Step 6. Protect hostas from disease
Watering, fertilizing and treating them correctly is the key to preventing plant diseases. Here are some steps to take to prevent and fight the disease:
- Use a spray fungicide if you see large dark-edged spots on the plant, as this could be anthracnose. Fight this disease by making sure the plant is never too wet.
- If you notice brown, wilted leaves along with whitish masses on the plant, remove any mulch residue from the hostas, as this could be a form of downy mildew.
- Water responsibly taking care not to over-wet the plants to combat top rot.
Advice
- To reach maximum height, hostas will take 2 to 4 years.
- After 4 years, all hostas will need to be divided and replanted.
