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Denial-that is what I am in every time I plant a Hosta. I know it is going to grow and get big I just don't believe it at the time. This is probably because I usually purchase bare root Hosta from online retailers and they usually have only a few leaves and 1 or 2 eyes (eyes are what growers call a Hosta division). They seem so small that when I go to plant them I lose all sense and end up putting them where I will eventually have to move them. Here are a couple of examples of some small Hosta I planted that will eventually be very large (given time): Here is Hosta "Liberty" which I planted last year. It is hard to believe from her size right now she will eventually be 6 feet wide. Hosta "Liberty" Hosta "Sagae" will reach about 6 feet wide-but right now only about a foot wide: Hosta "Sagae" Hosta "Guacamole" will eventually reach under 5 feet-only 2 feet right now. Hosta "Guacamole" So this denial leads to my Summer ritual which involves moving these beasts to a more appropriate position in the garden without setting them back too much. Using a pitchfork loosens the roots without cutting them like a shovel would do. The tape helps to make digging and moving it easier and also keep the Hosta leaves upright so the roots can pump water up the stems. What you will need for this: 1. A pitchfork or perennial fork-I prefer to use a pitch fork to move my plants I feel it causes less damage to the plants roots than using a shovel 2. A shovel to dig a new hole 3. Masking tape or painter's tape 4. An old belt with a D ring (or a piece of rope) Steps to move the Hosta: 1. Dig a hole where the Hosta is going to go or prepare a container for the Hosta. 2. Take the belt (or rope) and place it around the bottom of the Hosta: 3. Now pull the belt (or rope) up around the stems of the plant: pull it tight enough to hold the stems and leaves up-as tight as possible without breaking the stems or leaves. 4. When it is tight enough tie it off. If a couple leaves escape that's OK:-)) 5. Get the tape out and run the tape sticky side out around the Hosta either above or below the belt-I prefer above to keep the leaves in a tight bunch. 6. Wrap the tape around 3 or 4 times. When you have taped the Hosta you can release the belt and remove it. 7. Now grab your pitchfork. Shove it in the ground around the base of the Hosta and wiggle it back and forth (up and down) where you inserted it in the soil. This is to loosen the roots from the soil. Do this all the way around the base of the Hosta. When you get back around to where you started the Hosta should be pretty loose if not keep working the pitchfork around and under the Hosta until it gets loose. If you have tree roots holding your Hosta in place take a pair of pruners and cut them. It should be loose enough to remove if not use the pitchfork to pry it up like this: 8. Knock off extra dirt by dropping it a couple of times in the hole: 9. Now place it in the hole that you have dug making sure you are planting it at the same depth it was at. 10. Backfill the hole with dirt and water well: 11. Keep well watered until the Hosta becomes established in it's new home. Leave the tape on for a few weeks (until it loosens)-it will help keep the Hosta leaves upright while the Hosta recovers from the move. Here is a picture of Hosta "Honeybells" that I moved about a week ago. You will notice how the tape keeps the leaves from wilting and flopping (even in a sunny position). This technique can be used with any size Hosta that is fully leafed out-just make sure to keep the Hosta well watered until it becomes established-which may take the rest of the season. If you purchase a Hosta and are unsure of it's potential size here are some resources to help you : http://www.hostalibrary.org/ or you can visit some of the online retailers that specialize in Hosta-my favorite is Hallson's at http://www.perennialnursery.com/ I like Hallson's because there are forums where you can ask questions and you can search for Hosta and information by different categories like size, color, and name. Just remember that Hosta are hard to kill-as one gardener once said : "Hosta can be run over by a car in the driveway...and they will survive" (Ken from Gardenweb). Believe it or not this statement is true. Hosta are very resilient perennials and can survive just about anything you do to them including moving them in them in the heat of Summer. So, if you need to move that Hosta, don't worry about it and just do it! Until next time-Happy Planting! Rhonda
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I had been curious about what was behind the door of No. 6 Rue Gît-le-Cœur in Saint Germain for quite a while before I decided to Google it, half expecting to be disappointed by news that it no longer existed. To my surprise, a kind voice picked up at the other end of the telephone line. "Yes of cou
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I love Hosta, There, I said it! I love buying them, planting them, and watching them get bigger and more beautiful every year. I also like the way they brighten up my gardens like no other plant can. They come in some gorgeous shades of green, white and yellow with leaves that range from small to large. I really like the pie crust edge ones right now-they add a little something to the Hosta. I am not a Hosta expert by any means, but I have a little experience and have done plenty of research on this wonderful species over the years and there are a few myths I hear constantly and it drive me nuts. So, here they are: 1. Hostas are shade plants-this is probably the biggest myth there is. I get so sick of people telling other people that Hostas can not tolerate any sun. Hostas are the opposite, meaning they are shade tolerant which means they tolerate lower levels of light. In Asia, where they are from, they grow in the sun. Now, those of you in the southern part of it's range, it is best to give them shade because the sun is stronger down there (it's all about latitude). But those of us up here in the north, well, we can grow some of them in the sun as long as we supply adequate moisture. The more sun and water they get the bigger they get. Also, some of the yellow and variegated cultivars will color up better with some sun and the solid green ones are pretty sun tolerant. The only ones I would avoid planting in the sun are the blue ones-they won't hold their color well (they will lose their waxy coating and look green). Here are a couple pics of some I have growing in some sun: Hostas "Brother Stefan" and "Elvis Lives" growing in the sun with Lamb's Ear Hosta "August Moon" can take quite a bit of sun Hosta "Honeybells", like most fragrant Hosta, can take the sun 2. Hostas are hard to kill. Another myth. While it might be almost impossible to kill the "old fashioned" Hostas it is possible to kill a plant you paid good money for. Some Hosta growers have also said that certain hostas like "Great Expectations" are very difficult. If you google difficult Hostas you will see some chatter on the internet on the subject. I haven't come across any that seemed difficult to me but I have lost Hosta "Sum of All" this past winter to vole damage. They ate the entire crown. Voles and rabbits are usually what take mine out, but I have lost a few to other issues related to the retailer I purchased them from, hence number 5 on my list. "Old Fashioned" Hostas are hard to kill 3. Hostas should be divided. This is soooo untrue! Sure, Hostas can be divided-but they don't need to be-at least not for many years. Why is it that some people never let their Hostas reach their size potential? I love big Hostas-I think that is when they look their best. Most of the time heavy corrugation or huge leaves won't show up in a Hosta until it gets some age. I didn't buy "Sum and Substance" or "Sagae" because I want a small Hosta with little leaves. I bought them because they get huge with gorgeous leaves! If you want a bunch of small Hostas then buy small Hostas-there are many out there. Don't buy An "Empress Wu" and then never let it get to the size that it should be. That is just silly! Hosta "Sum and Substance" is young but already 3.5' wide Hosta "Christmas Tree" is 4.5' wide 4. Damage to Hosta plants is caused mostly from slugs. This one drives me nuts! All over the internet people show pictures of an issue with their Hosta and everyone always tells them it is slugs and to put eggshells down. Slugs are not the only cause for holes or damage to Hosta plants. There are sooo many reasons a Hosta can look terrible or have holes. A few of these reasons are: falling objects, hail, cold damage, stepping on, cutworms, animals eating them, and anthracnose. My biggest problem is with cutworms and I did a post last year on them-here it is: http://sproutsandstuff.blogspot.com/2014/06/holes-in-hosta-leaves-it-might-not-be.html. Here are some examples of some damage I have on my Hostas and what caused it: Slug damage on Hosta Cutworm damage on Hosta Hosta damage from being stepped on in early Spring Damage on a Hosta from falling debris Damage on Hosta from falling debris Rabbit damage on Hosta 5. It doesn't matter where you buy your Hosta plants. Another falsehood. I no longer buy my Hostas from a source that has no clue about the plant or who doesn't guarantee disease free stock. Your big box stores and some nurseries are clueless to any diseases or issues associated with Hostas and because of that they are spreading the problem. Heck, they have diseased stock sitting there on the salesfloor just waiting for an unwitting customer to buy up their infected plants. Ignorance is on their side. Personally, I opt to buy disease free stock from the most reputable sources. And guess what-they are not more expensive and they have better selections. You would not believe the varieties you can buy-not just the same old Hosta. Here are just a few of the issues that you might find with your Hosta if you buy from a unreliable source: HVX, Nematodes, Athracnose, Crown Rot (also called Petiole Rot), and Bacterial Soft Rot. My favorite Hosta retailers are: http://www.perennialnursery.com/ http://www.inthecountrygardenandgifts.com/ http://landofthegiantshostafarm.com/ http://www.plantdelights.com/Hosta-for-sale/Plantain-Lily/Buy-Hostas/Hosta-Plants/Hosta-Nursery/?results_per_page=1000 6. HVX is not a problem. Yes it is! One of the biggest problems with HVX is denial. I once saw a very reputable blogger's post on shade plants and what did she show a picture of? An HVX infected "Gold Standard" Hosta. Of course, she has since removed the photo (I think), but still did she not notice something wrong? It had classic ink bleed throughout the entire plant. I hope she didn't think she had something interesting there. If your Hosta is looking unhealthy, has ink bleed or tissue collapse you should have it tested for the disease. For more information on this issue see the Hosta Library: http://www.hostalibrary.org/firstlook/HVX.htm I hope I have given you some information on Hostas that you can use and refuted those pesky myths that seems to surround these beautiful plants. If you have any question or comments feel free to leave them below. Happy Gardening! Rhonda
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