How to Take Care of Hostas
- 1). Plant hostas where they will receive morning sun or dappled shade. In hot, dry climates, hostas perform best in protected areas of the garden that receive filtered, indirect sunlight. In cooler climates, hostas can take more sunlight, but they should always be protected from intense, mid-day sun. Hostas thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
- 2). Plant all types of hostas in fertile, well-drained soil. Amend poor soils before planting with a few handfuls of organic material for each plant. Dig the planting hole twice as large as the hosta's root ball. Add organic matter to the excavated garden soil, mix well and plant the hosta at the same level it was growing in the previous container. Apply additional organic matter around the newly planted hosta to add nutrients to the soil and keep the roots cool and moist.
- 3). Apply a balanced 10-10-10 granular fertilizer around the base of the plant, gently working the granules into the top inch or two of the soil. Application of granular fertilizer at planting will provide the plant with ample food until it becomes established. Provide additional fertilizer twice a year in early spring and mid-summer, following the manufacturer's recommendations.
- 4). Water hosta plants thoroughly whenever the top inch or two of soil is dry, but at least three times per week. Keep the soil around hostas evenly moist but not soggy. To check the moisture level of the soil, simply poke your finger into the soil surface and feel for dampness. Hostas grown in hot, dry climates will require more water and humidity than those grown in cooler climates. Add mulch around hosta plants to conserve soil moisture.
- 5). Prune away any dead or dry leaves from underneath hosta plants. Removing leaf litter will help control common pests and diseases like snails, slugs, leaf spot and crown rot. Remove spent flower stalks after blooms fade. Divide hostas in late summer to early fall or in spring to multiply plants or to revive poorly performing large clumps. Plant hosta divisions as you would nursery-grown plants.
