Home /
Miscellaneous Hosta Gardening Info

Misc. Hosta Gardening Info

Hosta Growing Cycle:
In Minnesota, the shoots begin to emerge from the soil about the 2nd week of April until the 2nd week of May (depending upon the specific cultivar, plant location, and weather) and elongate and unfurl into leaves.

H. 'Devon Green'
To promote an early hosta growing cycle a balanced 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 fertilizer could be applied just before the hostas emerge. The next growth spurt takes place in the roots in early to mid-June, when you can apply a second dose of fertilizer, with lower nitrogen content but with higher phosphorus and potassium content.
Trees:
The type and size of trees is important hosta garden information which needs to be taken into account to get the most out of your hostas. Shallowly rooted trees not conducive to hostas include: beeches, birches, cherries, maples, and willows. Trees producing excessive suckers include cherries and poplars. Trees that can be good for nearby hostas include oaks, some hard maples, lindens, hickories, elms, pines, spruces, ash, larch and dogwoods. Although walnut trees are not compatible with some plants, they are compatible with hostas.
H. 'June'

Moss:
Moss grows in wet, often shaded, acidic soil. Rather than using expensive moss killers, try removing the existing moss with a shovel and disposing of it. Then use lime to slightly change the pH of the soil and the moss will disappear. However, remember that hostas like acidic soil.
Erosion control:
Most hostas are clump-forming herbaceous perennials that have a rhizome (an underground storage organ). In a few hosta varieties, the rhizome is stoloniferous, meaning it grows horizontally and produces new plantlets along its length. These hostas are particularly useful for ground cover, slopes and erosion control. Since they grow tightly, you do not ever need to divide them to create new plants.