Hosta Planting Guide
Dependable Shady Ladies
If you have shade in your landscape do yourself a favor and find space for some hostas. There are plant sizes to fit most sites and varieties for very light to fairly dense shade. All add lush, leafy fullness and seasonal white or lavender flowers, some with a sweet fragrance as a nice bonus.
There are enough hosta cultivars in today's market to make your head spin. We've focused on a selection of the best and any of the varieties here will perform with dependable strength and beauty. Just follow the planting instructions below and you'll be all set.
Outdoor Beds
1. Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still water puddles 5-6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site. Or amend the soil with generous additions of peat moss, perlite and course sand to improve the drainage. Hostas prefer soils that provide average moisture, but are not water logged.
2. Site your hostas where they will receive the amount of light recommended in the "Exposure" section of the product information. Ideal light conditions vary with individual cultivars.
3. Your hostas will be shipped "bareroot." This just means that the soil has been washed from the roots, so you won't risk introducing any soil-borne diseases into your garden, and the plant is lighter and cleaner to ship. Bareroot plants are easy to handle and settle in quickly. Tuck your hosta plants with the roots pointing downwards and the "eyes" or growing points slightly below soil level. Space plants according to the mature width information in the "Plant Size" section of the product information: for a hosta with a mature width of 20", plant half that, or 10" from its neighbor, for a hosta with a mature width of 48", plant 24" from its neighbor, etc.
4. After planting, water generously, soaking the soil. Root growth will begin immediately. Top sprouts will form within a few weeks in warm climates and in the spring in cool climates.
5. Water periodically during the growing season if rain does not occur, but keep in mind that weekly deep waterings are better than lighter drinks every day or two.
6. Feel free to clip blossoms to bring inside. This will not hurt the plants and will provide pretty stems of bell-shaped flowers for bouquets.
7. After blooming has finished for the season, feel free to clip off any spent flower stems. Your hostas will continue to provide attractive, lush foliage for the remainder of the growing season. As fall arrives and temperatures cool, your hosta leaves may yellow, or wilt after the first frost. At this point you may trim off any leaves with the knowledge that next spring will bring fresh growth.
8. For autumn planting in cold areas, plant six to eight weeks before hard frosts so hostas have time to securely root in or provide protective mulch. This will minimize the risk of frost heave.
Pots, Tubs & Urns
1. Fill your containers with well-drained potting soil that includes peat moss, perlite and course sand in equal proportions. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes in your pots; hostas must never sit in waterlogged soil.
2. Site your hostas where they will receive the amount of light recommended in the "Exposure" section of the product information. Ideal light conditions vary with individual cultivars.
3. Your hostas will be shipped "bareroot." This means that the soil has been washed from the roots, so you won't risk introducing any soil-borne diseases into your garden, and the plant is lighter and cleaner to ship. Bareroot plants are easy to handle and settle in quickly. Tuck your hosta plants with the roots pointing downwards and the "eyes" or growing points slightly below soil level. Consider mature size as you select varieties and suitable containers. Consult the width information in the "Plant Size" section of the product information.
4. After planting, water generously, soaking the soil. Root growth will begin immediately. Top sprouts will form within a few weeks in warm climates and in the spring in cool climates.
5. Water periodically during the growing season if rain does not occur, but keep in mind that weekly deep waterings are better than lighter drinks every day or two.
6. Feel free to clip blossoms to bring inside. This will not hurt the plants and will provide pretty stems of bell-shaped flowers for bouquets.
7. After blooming has finished for the season, feel free to clip off any spent flower stems. Your hostas will continue to provide attractive, lush foliage for the remainder of the growing season. As fall arrives and temperatures cool, your hosta leaves may yellow, or wilt after the first frost. At this point you may trim off any leaves with the knowledge that next spring will bring fresh growth.
8. For autumn planting in cold areas, pot up eight weeks before hard frosts so hostas have time to securely root in. This will minimize the risk of frost heave. Also note, cold hardiness is decreased one or two zones when plants are situated in containers.
Note: Sometimes bareroot hostas are so ready to grow, they sprout before getting in the ground. (Gotta love the enthusiasm!) If yours are raring to go and have sprouts that are growing in the same direction as the roots (downwards), don't worry. Plant with the roots down in the soil and the sprouts tucked on their sides. The new leaves will change course, head upwards and be growing skyward before you know it.
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