Things You'll Need:
- Pruning shears
- Pine bark mulch
- Large buckets or boxes
- Bricks or heavy rocks
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Step 1
Wait until at least one hard autumn frost has occurred before removing the hosta foliage. Cut away all hosta foliage down to the soil level to reduce pests and infections during the next growing season. Rake away any dried leaves and other debris that are caught among the hosta plants as well. Removing the hosta foliage and other debris eliminates places for voles to hide and nest during the winter.
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Step 2
Add about 1 inch of pine bark mulch above the hosta crowns to help protect the hostas from ground heaves. Often when temperatures fluctuate drastically in the winter, the ground will shift, causing the roots of the hostas to be exposed. A layer of mulch over the top of the soil will minimize any root exposure.
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Step 3
Stop providing any additional water to the hosta plants at this time. This will help signal to the hostas that it is time to enter the dormancy stage.
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Step 4
Remove any mulch from directly over the hosta crowns before the hosta plants begin to grow in the spring.
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Step 5
Watch the weather conditions as spring approaches and monitor the hostas to notice when new hosta shoots emerge in the spring. If freezing temperatures come after the hosta plants have emerged from the soil in the spring, cover the tender shoots with a box or a large bucket before freezing temperatures. Secure the box or bucket on top of the hosta plants with a brick or a heavy rock. Remove the bucket after the temperature climbs back above freezing.
