Care & seasons
Hostas are not heavy feeders. On decent soil an annual layer of compost is often enough. If you do fertilise, use a slow-release fertiliser just as the shoots start to grow in spring, follow the pack rather than adding extra, and stop by midsummer so the leaves harden before autumn. Too much nitrogen can fade the pattern on variegated varieties.
4 min read
Care & seasons
Hostas are hardy and need a cold winter rest, so there is little to do. Let the leaves die back after the first frosts, clear them away once they have collapsed, mark the spot and keep the soil well drained, because a wet winter does more harm than a cold one. Potted hostas need a sheltered spot raised off the ground. Only new shoots that have already started to grow need frost cover.
5 min read
Care & seasons
Hostas need about 4 cm of water a week in summer, roughly 40 litres per square metre including rain. Water deeply at the base of the plant, preferably in the morning, whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry. New plants, hostas under trees and hostas in pots need checking most often; a mulch keeps the soil moist for longer.
4 min read
Care & seasons
A newly planted hosta spends its first year making roots. Shoots usually appear two to four weeks after planting, the leaves stay small, and flowers tend to wait until the second year. Keep the soil moist all summer, protect young shoots from slugs and frost, and expect a full clump in three to five years.
9 min read
