How to Grow Hosta Shade Garden

Shady areas in your yard are the perfect location for a hosta garden. However, the plants will tolerate an area that has 2-3 hours of morning sun. Hostas are plantain lilies and are native to China, Japan and Korea. In North America, gardeners grow the hosta plant for its unusual leaf, the variety of colors, and the texture. The plants are very attractive mid spring through frost. Here are some tips on how to grow hosta shade garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hosta
• Shady planting site
• Organic soil
• Mulch
• Fertilizer
• Hose
• Optional shade plants; Ajuga, Lilly of the Valley Astilbe

1. 
   Hosta shade garden

   Purchase a starter hosta plant from garden center. Most Hosta plants grow 1-3 feet tall and wide. However, a few varieties will grow 3-5 feet tall and wide. Overall, it takes three seasons for Hosta to establish itself in the garden.

2. 

   Choose a shady garden site for your hosta garden. Plant them around a shade tree, or as a filler plant for borders, and an edging plant along woodland gravel paths. Hosta plants will grow and multiply but never become invasive.

3. 
   Hosta with ajuga groundcover

   Select a garden that has rich organic soil. The soil should be moist and well drained. Allow 18-20 inches between plantings.

4. 

   Apply a light layer of mulch or pine needles to control slugs, to retain moisture. Mulch will also control weeds. Do not mulch over two inches as it may increase the Vole problems.

5. Water the hosta plants weekly throughout the growing season. Use a soaking hose so that the water will go to the roots system. Hosta requires one and a half inches of water per week.

6. 

   Fertilize the hosta plants three-four times during growing season. Use a hose end feeder for best results.

7. Apply coffee grounds around the base of your plants. This is a natural method to repel garden pests. Coffee will also deter cats from your hosta garden.

8. After the first frost, the hosta plants will die back. Cut back the leaves. Weed the bed and then cover with 2-3 inches of organic mulch. The mulch will protect your hostas from extreme cold.

9. 
   early spring Hosta

   In the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Fertilize to encourage roots to expand. Use a 10-10-10 or 20-10-10 fertilizer. Your Hostas need nitrogen. You will notice that in about a week after you fertilizer that your plants will awaken from their winter sleep.

Tips & Warnings

• Can be grown with astilbe, fern, ajuga, and lily of the valley
• Divide hosta plants every three to four years.
• Use knife dipped in 10% Clorox and water to cut hosta clump for transplanting.
• Avoid full afternoon sun, will scorch leaves
• Don’t us chemicals on hosta
• Deer enjoy feeding on the succulent hosta leaves

Resources

• Garden Secrets
• Hosta Specialty Gardens

[anthonya]

on 9/28/2009 Good tips, and I'm going to try your coffee idea.

[Susang6]

on 4/25/2009 Jean1, I have a hosta garden under a pine tree, I applied mulch to retain moisture. Over the years I have found that these plants require more water. Therefore, it is best to set up a soaking hose and put it on a timer for early morning watering and late afternoon. Coffee works very well, and have used coffee for several years.

[jean1]

on 4/24/2009 Has anyone tried the coffe grounds yet? Also, I would like to plant them under a pine tree. Would the pine steal the water from the Hosta roots?

[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/26/2009 Thanks for the article on growing Hosta Shade Garden. Well detailed. 5*

[duncan411]

on 9/24/2008 Wow! Great tips!