How to Grow Hostas

Hostas, one of the best choices for shade, are a perennial favorite of many gardeners. With a little care, they will thrive anywhere except in the deep Southern part of the United States, and turn your yard into a showcase of foliage. From deep green to nearly yellow, with streaks of pink, hostas have earned their rightful place in the American garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil. Hostas like well-drained, fertile soil, enriched with composted manure and peat humus. Add hydro source water crystals to help retain the moisture these thirsty plants love.

2. Purchase small, well-rooted, first or second year plants. Carefully unwind the root balls and spread out along the bottom of holes dug level to the base of the plant. Hold only the top of the crown slightly above the soil as you spread the rest of it over the roots. Carefully tamp down, but do not pack firmly.

3. Keep your hostas moist but not standing in water. Hostas require about 1 inch of water per week. Adjust in high temperatures to keep soil from getting too dry. An underground trickle system is a good choice for hostas. Apply pine bark mulch over the surface of the soil to retain even moisture content, but keep the mulch 3 inches away from the hosta crown.

4. Divide hosta roots almost anytime during the spring and summer. Since hostas multiply rapidly by their roots, just dig up a clump, gently coax the nodes apart and replant further apart. Water thoroughly as the new divisions take root.

5. Fertilize hostas with a commercially-prepared 10-10-10 formula. Composted manure is beneficial, but apply at least 4, or more, inches away from the crowns to prevent burning.

6. Prune spent hosta leaves back to within 6 inches of the crown and cover with straw or pine mulch to help moderate temperature changes in colder climates. Remember to remove the mulch next spring.