Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Hostas. Why I love them and why you should too.

Photographer Janet Loughrey

via


My mom has been growing hostas since I was little. She got a few plants from a neighbor and then she just kept dividing them, over, and over. She has given me about 20 and I bought a bunch of other varieties from Lowes on discount last fall. When I was younger I never really understood the fascination, but now with all the varieties out there who wouldn't want some in their yard!

These plants make great borders in semi shady areas and grow in zones 3-9. Hostas like rich and moist organic soils, and they like morning sun and afternoon shade. Hostas are heavy feeders and fertilizer should be applied in early spring and again in mid-summer.

Negatives: Watch out for deer. I have lots of deer wandering around my home and I have yet to have an incident, but I've alway read deer love eating hostas.


8 comments:

Sherry Wray said...

I have lots of Hostas in my yard too! They are so hardy and they come up every year! I would like to have some more in my front yard. I also love Iris flowers are so beautiful. I have some mini ones that are all purple and they come up the end of March in the snow! They look so beautiful!

Anna @ D16 said...

I love hostas! I wish I had enough shade in my garden to have some. I tried, but they all died. Alas!

Rosie maddocks said...

They look really beautiful. We have a few in our garden, but every year they get totally eaten by slugs and snails, until each leaf is just a skeleton! They are wonderful plants though.

Jenn Ski said...

@Anna

you can grow them in the sun, but you have to remember to water them a lot!

There are types of hostas that do well in sun.
http://www.easyshadegardening.com/hostas-for-sun.html

Rebecca Beagle said...

I'm gearing up to divide every hosta I can get my hands on this spring to replant in my back yard. If only it turns out half as nice as those pictures. I suppose anything will be better than the black plastic we've had down for the past year to kill the weeds.

Monica said...

Hi! Saw your comment at Anna's and thought I would drop by. So lovely to see all those lovely hostas. They are one of my favorite garden plants. I know it is way too early but I have been checking mine daily for signs of life.

Elizabeth Cohen said...

I have a shady yard near Boston which hosta just love. So do deer. Around August, they weed whack their way through, but only in the back yard, away from the house. I still love the hosta, and the deer, though. If you want some hosta, come down to Wellesley! I have pachysandra, too.

Nina's Apartment said...

I love Hostas too, but recognize the slug and snail problem!! One solution is to keep the plant in a pot and put it on gravel. Slugs don't like sharp stones...