How to Plant and Care for Shade-Loving Hostas

Hostas love the shade. So, if you have some dark, moist areas in your yard that need a makeover, fill the space with different types of Hostas. They are perennials and you can enjoy them year after year. The perfect place to plant Hostas is around trees that offer natural shade with just a hint of sunshine. Hostas, also called Plantain Lilies, are perfect for providing color and texture to your yard. They are available in lots of different shades of green and blue and there are also variegated varieties that have white, silver and gold patches or stripes on the leaves.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hosta plants
• peat moss
• garden trowel
• diatomaceous earth

1. The first thing you have to do is find suitable Hosta plants. You need to look for dense plants in pots that have some leaf buds and at least one or two unfolded leaves. Stay away from wilted Hostas in containers full of dry soil. If the pots get dry, the Hosta can wilt to the point of no return.

2. Once you have your Hosta plants in hand, dig a hole that is about twice as large at the pot they are in. Wait until all danger of frost has passed. You should fill the hole with a mixture of soil and peat moss.

3. Be careful when you remove the Hosta from its container. You don't want to damage the roots, and you should leave the rootball intact as much as you possibly can.

4. Place the Hosta plant in the hole leaving the base of the Hosta level with the ground. Fill in the hole around the Hosta with soil and press gently but firmly to set the Hosta in place.

5. 
    
   Photo by lb_philly at Flickr.com

   Water enough to completely saturate the soil around the Hosta plant. You can apply some shredded pink bark around the Hosta as mulch, then sit back and watch this beautiful foliage grow and spread.

6. 
    
   Photo by bob1217 at Flickr.com

   Hostas also produce stately purple flowers that some people love and others hate. I happen to dislike them, as they take away from the great foliage of the Hosta. I cut them off, but if you keep them, cut the flower stalks back after the blooms fade. Remove any damaged leaves (slugs love Hostas and make big, ugly holes in the leaves). Please read my article on "How to Murder a Living Creature Without Remorse" which will show you how to get rid of those slimy little irritants. I have added a link to the article in the Resources Section.

7. 
    
   Photo by emagen at Flickr.com

   Frances Williams is one of my favorite Hosta varieties. It will grow and spread to about four feet. It has green leaves trimmed in gold and the leaves appear to almost have a seersucker design to them. There are several varieties from which you can choose. They all look great together and are especially nice when planted en masse.

Tips & Warnings

• In the early spring, divide any established Hostas when the soil is warm enough to be worked. Digging with a shovel, dig deep enough to dig up the whole clump. Separate the clumb, divide in half and then replant each. Next year, you will have twice as many plants.
• Use plenty of organic matter in the soil as you prepare the area in which you are going to plant Hostas.
• Mulch to provide protection in the winter.
• Large holes in the leaves are signs of slugs. You can prevent slugs by spreading diatomaceous earth around the plants, but a saucer of beer will work also.

Resources

• How to KILL SLUGS!!!!

[steacher]

on 10/29/2009 Thank you for all the information. I love to garden, but for some reason my plants don't do very well. Detailed, step by step information like this is great for me! I'll have to try some hostas next spring.

[steacher]

on 10/29/2009 Thank you for all the information. I love to garden, but for some reason my plants don't do very well. Detailed, step by step information like this is great for me! I'll have to try some hostas next spring.

[mvalora]

on 9/5/2009 Useful article on Hostas. 5*

[nanamusicgirl]

on 8/23/2009 Very good article!!! LOVE hostas, one of my favorite plants ever.....very good pictures too!

[sallyemaycreate]

on 8/8/2009 Thanks for the informative article about Hostas... very helpful and thorough! 5*