Hosta Care
Hosta is virtually carefree and comes back reliably year after year. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, this tough plant performs well in most landscapes, even for beginning gardeners.
Foliage occurs in shades of green, blue, white, gold, chartreuse and variegated patterns. Pointed leaves are heart-shaped or elongated, with smooth, pleated or wavy texture that creates depth in the landscape. Flower scapes appear in summer, bearing clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms in hues of white, pink, lavender or purple, with some varieties being fragrant.
These versatile plants are widely useful when massed in a border or along a slope, as a foundation planting or stand-alone accent, in containers, or when combined with other woodland plants. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find a hosta that suits your personal taste and style.
PLANTING & CARING FOR HOSTA
How to plant: Follow these steps to plant hosta in spring or fall, leaving enough space between plants to accommodate their mature width.
Loosen the soil in the planting area to a depth slightly deeper and twice as wide as the root ball.
Mix in compost or other rich organic matter.
Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball.
Remove the plant from the nursery pot and tease out roots if potbound.
Set the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil.
Fill in the hole with soil and tamp down gently to remove air pockets. Water well.
Mulch with a layer of compost or shredded bark to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Soil: Hosta prefers rich, well-draining soil.
For containers: Use a high-quality all-purpose potting mix. Make sure containers have drainage holes in the bottom. The container should be 4-6 inches wider and slightly deeper than the root ball.
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy, and don’t allow plants to completely dry out.
Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a granular all-purpose time-release fertilizer according to package instructions.
Pruning: Trim off dead or damaged foliage and spent flower stalks as needed. Allow plants to die back completely in the fall and clean up leaf debris.