7 Tips for Growing Hosta Plants
Hosta plants are the perfect plant for decorating your landscaping, offering volume and color that is fairly low maintenance and returns year after year. If you are considering hostas in your landscaping this year, or want to make the ones you have look even better, take a look below at 7 tips for growing hosta plants successfully.
Many people turn to hostas when they want to fill a large space easily, or if they have a less than green thumb since hostas are so easy to grow! We use hosta plants to fill the area under our deck. It adds a lot of color and they are so easy to maintain. This is their 3rd summer and as you can see, they are really starting to fill in that area as they get bigger and bigger:
With a few easy tips and tricks you too can enjoy hostas that come back thriving year after year.
1. Plant in well tilled soil.
Hostas grow FAST and love to spread their roots out wide. It is important that you plant hostas in well tilled soil so that they can grow as needed. This will also make it easier to separate the hostas when it comes time to do so. Till well before planting, and your hostas will be off to a great start.
2. Don’t go for instant gratification.
Make sure to space them properly. You might be tempted to fill in an area fast by cramming a bunch of hostas into the space. Avoid doing this and instead be patient. The hostas will grow and spread quickly, so there is no need to crowd them to try to fill in an empty space. Instead, be sure you are placing your hostas at least 18 inches apart from each other (certain varieties may require more) so they can grow and spread as they need.
3. Keep them cool.
Hostas do prefer shady and cooler areas. They do well in shade gardens or landscaping that gets little afternoon sun. Keep this in mind when planting hostas. They will survive if planted in full sun, however they may not grow as quickly and may be more prone to damage and dryness.
4. Protect them from slugs.
Slugs love to nibble on hostas. An easy way to take care of this is to place slug traps around the plants. This can be as easy as placing some beer in a shallow dish to catch the slugs, or you can treat the hostas with a pest repellant to keep them at bay. I personally love the beer method and we use this snail shaped slug trap shown (left). It’s not only decorative, but it works! (great reviews on Amazon too!)
5. Watch for yellowing leaves.
Yellowing leaves can mean that you are overwatering your hostas. Hostas need about an inch of water per week to stay healthy. If you have excessive rain don’t worry about watering as long as the soil is moist. If you see yellowing, hold off watering for a few days to see if they return to normal. We have our plants on a drip system which works really well for these plants, especially once you get a feel for how much water they need.
6. Divide hostas as needed.
Hostas may need to be divided once they become too large. If your hostas are 5+ years old, excessively large, or starting to die off in the center, then it is time to separate them. Gently dig the plant up keeping the roots intact, and separate the plants. You can then transplant the hostas into another space in the yard.
7. Feel free to feed them!
When you plant hostas for the first time or replant them after dividing, feel free to give them some slow release fertilizer. You can also feed them at the start of the season and again 4 weeks later. They will like this boost and can benefit from it!
Are you ready to give hostas a try in your yard? Give these 7 tips for growing hostas a try and see how much beauty they can add to your yard.
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