Tips for Growing Great Hostas

Hostas are one of the few perennials that are commonly found in almost every region of the world. The originated in China, Korea and Japan, but spread quickly to the United States. They have been a top pick for a shade loving perennial garden for many centuries. Hostas come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes and can be found in almost every home landscape. Some gardeners love hostas so much that they have an area devoted solely to this perennial! There are many uses for Hostas in the home garden and some simple tips for helping them to flourish in your own landscape!

When growing Hostas, there are a few cultural practices you can follow to help them flourish in your landscape. Hostas are generally hardy in zones 3-8, but you will want to check the individual varieties to be sure they will be hardy in the zone you are planting them in. Hostas prefer a well drained soil bed that is rich in organic matter. If you are mixing soil for the bed you will want to mix one part loam, one part sand and one part humus. This will provide the plants with ample moisture, but not drown the plants. If the soil is heavily clay, be sure to add these amendments to increase drainage.

Hostas do like an overly-moist growing condition, so mulching around the Hostas is very important. Apply a 4 inch layer of mulch over the beds to help maintain a constant moisture level. During dry periods you will want to soak the mulch daily. If the mulch is staying moist, water less so that the Hostas do not suffer from rot due to the moist conditions. Slugs will also be attracted to Hostas, so mulching and keeping the area free of garden debris is very important. The first winter that you have planted the Hostas you will need to protect them by covering the plants with straw. Once they have survived a winter the plants will be hardy and in future years will not need extra protection. To keep the foliage of the Hostas healthy, remove any flowers before the plant sends out seed. Seed production requires lots of energy and will take away from the foliage production. After about 4 years your Hosta will be considered full grown and should mirror the images in the magazine!

The best use of a Hosta is in a shady spot. Many decorative perennials need full sun to bloom and grow vigorously. A Hosta will shine in the shade and grow where many other perennials were not able to. Another great use of Hostas is to form a background for another beautiful flowering plant. Their hues of green, blue and yellow provide an excellent backdrop to a flowering plant that produces blue, purple or pink flowers. Hostas also make great ground covers. If you have an area that you can't grow grass, try a few Hostas. On a slope that is difficult to mow, you can plant Hostas to cover the soil and prevent weeds from growing up. The Hostas also will prevent soil run-off on slopes in your landscape. Hostas may even be a great choice for a border between your yard and your neighbors. Think of a row of Hostas as a low lying fence that will help you distinguish where your lawn ends and the neighbors begins! Anywhere you decide to plant a hosta will become a beautiful spot indeed!

If you have a shady spot where you would like to have a beautiful plant, look no farther than the Hosta section at the nursery. Hostas are sold all over the country and come in dwarf or miniature sizes, medium sizes and large sized varieties. The colors vary from bright yellow, to deep blue. You will be sure to find a Hosta to your satisfaction no matter what your taste is!