Controlling Hosta Pests- Slugs, Deer, and Rabbits

Slugs

Deer

Rabbits and Other Rodents

Slugs

Slugs eat holes in hosta leaves near the edges or between the veins.  Leaf tissue is missing with little or no discoloration around the hole.

Slugs look like snails without shells. They are active feeders at night and on cloudy days, chewing holes in hosta leaves. A sign of slugs is their slime trails, those shiny squiggly lines they leave as they crawl.  Slugs reproduce by laying up to 50 eggs at a time in a clutch. Slugs are active when temperatures get above 50 degrees and there is ample moisture from either rainfall or watering. This is a good reason to water in the early morning. Slugs like deep, dark hiding places beneath leaf litter, mulches and dense ground cover. Toads, ground beetles, garter snakes, moles, shrews and wrens all prey on slugs.

• Possible solutions: (HostasDirect, Inc.'s policy is to not endorse products. We only provide information.):
  
  • SLUGGO - An organic compound that breaks down into fertilizer.
  • Plant slug resistant hostas, which have thicker leaves to prevent slugs. These hostas can be found using the HostaSearch™ Database. Some popular examples of slug resistant hostas are: 'Rainforest Sunrise', 'Thunderbolt', 'Whirlwind', and 'Revolution'.

Deer

Deer are a common problem for hosta lovers. Deer seem to like hostas with fragrant blooms (plantaginea family) the most. Use the HostaSearch™ Database and Search Engine to determine the fragrant hostas.

Possible preventative solutions: (HostasDirect, Inc.'s policy is to not endorse products. We only provide information.)

• Wireless Deer Fence
• Deer Scram 
• Liquid Fence NOTE: It is recommended that plants are dry before application to ensure good adhesion. It is a water-based product and you should avoid applying when direct sunlight could potentially burn the plant.
• Plantskydd
• Gardener's Supply Company
• Deer Out
• Safe Pet Products
• Plastic and Metal Fences - Numerous vendors. They need to be 8 to 10 high and strong.

Rabbits and Other Rodents

In the spring, rabbits often eat hosta leaves just as the plants are coming up.  They also sometimes bite off flower scapes. Squirrels frequently aren't classified as hosta pests but don't mind eating hosta leaves during a drought and sometimes dig up plants. Voles occasionally have been caught eating hosta roots. A heavy infestation of voles may kill plants. Wire cages made of hardware cloth encircling the hosta roots may deter these hosta pests.

Voles and field mice can be a problem for hostas and other plants. They burrow under the roots and eat not only the fibrous roots but the basal plate as well. Generally, this damage is performed in the winter when the plants are dormant. Most of the plants damaged in this way will live but will be reduced in size. If you dig the plant and examine the roots you can tell if voles have been at work. The lack of roots will be obvious and the rodent's teeth marks on the basal plate of the hosta will often be visible.

Possible Solutions: (HostasDirect, Inc.'s policy is to not endorse products. We only provide information.)

• For Rabbits and Rodents 
• Rabbit Scram 
• Critter-Repellent Granular repellent containing fox scent.
• A cat, like Tom Carlson's, can keep rodents out!

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