Hosta Growing Guide

Planting Hosta

Plant in spring after the last frost.
Keep plants cool until planting and be careful that they do not dry out.
Dig a hole and spread out the roots so that they are not coiled in the bottom of the hole.
Plant so that the crown and roots are completely covered and the tips of dormant eyes are just below the surface.
Water thoroughly after planting.

Growing Hosta

These plants thrive in average, even damp, soils that are slightly acid and will benefit from a light application of fertilizer in early spring.
Once planted the addition of organic mulch will help retain moisture in the soil as well as keeping down the weeds. It is important not to put the mulch directly on the crown. Wet mulch on the crown can cause crown rot.

Care Hosta

Watch for slug damage and use preventative measures if slugs are active.
These plants are ideal when planted amid patches of spring-flowering bulbs, as their foliage will obscure the bulb foliage as it dies back.

Winterizing Hosta

Foliage should be cut back in the fall to eliminate cover for overwintering slugs but this can also be done in the spring.
For new plants, provide a winter mulch of evergreen boughs or salt marsh hay after the ground freezes to help prevent heaving.