Here are the solutions to the most frequently asked questions about these leafy lovelies
Hostas are one of the few ‘every-garden-should-have-one’ plants. They’re superb in shady borders, essential in shaded containers and impressive as weed-smothering ground cover. They come in a vast variety of leaf shapes and colours and patterns, while some also boast impressively fragrant flowers. But of course, as with all plants, choosing the right varieties for your particular situation is crucial and as with almost every plant we grow, sometimes there are problems. These are the top 10 questions gardeners ask about hostas.
1 I know they prefer shade but can Ialso grow them in a sunny place?
Yes. Arough-and-ready approach is to say the sunnier the site, the more moisture the hostas will need. They’ll take some drought in light shade, while to some extent sunnier conditions can be balanced by more moisture. In full sun, few will thrive but hosta varieties with plain green or bluish, heavily textured leaves are the most adaptable. Avoid varieties with white variegation in full sun. If you need a hosta for a sunny site, try ‘Blue Umbrellas’ (large plant, bluish leaves), ‘Gold Edger’ (neat green leaves become golden), ‘Royal Standard’ (green leaves, fragrant flowers) or ‘Sum and Substance’ (huge plant, large green leaves).
2 How do I stop slugs and snails eating my plants?
Hostas are a favourite food for both slugs and snails. A small bite into an emerging shoot can, as the leaf expands, turn into a large and ugly hole. But some varieties have unusually tough leaves which are less susceptible to slug damage, so start with those. Most organic methods – gravel, egg shells, copper tape and so on – have proved unhelpful but I find SlugClear Ultra 3 organic slug pellets work well. Another trick is to stand potted hostas growing in containers on pot feet and stand the pot feet in a saucer of water to create a water barrier.
3 Some people recommend mulching hostas, some say don’t. Who is right?
Mulching is a good way of helping retain valuable moisture around the roots of hostas and other shade-loving plants, but choosing the right mulch is important. Avoid mulching with coarse bark chips because the spaces between the chips are ideal damp daytime hiding places for slugs, which then emerge at night to munch through your prized plants. Instead, mulch with very finely ground composted bark which provides no hiding places.
4 Are the
