How to plant and care for hostas

One of the least demanding plants, hostas can be left to take care of themselves once established; however they perform better with a little care and attention. Here are some tips on planting hostas and caring for them once their established.

It is wise to spend time enriching and improving the soil so that hostas will grow to mature size.

1. Clean the site of all perennial weeds and cultivate as deeply as possible, at least to a full-spade depth.
2. If time allows, wait a few weeks before planting to give any missed pieces of weed root time to grow and be removed.
3. If the soil is either very heavy or very sandy, dig in a good layer (at least eight centimetres or 3 3/4 inches) of compost, old manure, or other source of humus. If the soil is in fairly good condition, a thinner layer will suffice, but the plants will be there for several years so the better the soil the longer they will go on growing well.
4. Hostas grow best in a slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.0, but seem to survive in more alkaline soils, around 7.5, just as well. A pH that is too high will make the leaves on blue-leaved varieties look dull and slightly brown.

The best time to plant hostas is in early spring, just as the new shoots are emerging, and if you are buying by mail order, this is when they should arrive.

1. For hostas that will eventually grow large, like 'Krossa Regal' and 'Sum and Substance', dig a hole large enough to plant a shrub, about one metre wide by 45 centimetres (18 inches) deep.
2. Work added compost or manure into the bottom of the hole and cover this with a layer of the excavated soil.
3. Plant the hosta on a mound of soil in the middle of the hole with the roots spread down the sides of the mound, making sure the roots do not come into contact with any manure.
4. Fill in around the roots, and firm well. Use the same technique for smaller varieties with an appropriate-sized hole but add more humus to the surrounding soil close to the surface.

• Newly planted hostas will need regular watering for the first year. Large varieties will only need watering in prolonged periods of drought. If varieties with shiny leaves start to look dull, they need watering. Small varieties will need watering more often because their roots are not deep.
• The best way to water is to apply it close to the crown of the plant, under the foliage, using a hose with a wand or a watering can.
• Overhead watering is not as effective because the foliage tends to shed the water away from the root zone.