| One of the things that makes growing hostas | | | | in a single evening. This can be a real problem in |
| easy and fun is the species' resistance to pests | | | | rural areas. Tall fences and a barking dog are the |
| and disease. But though they are very | | | | traditional deer defenses, but you can also try |
| pest-resistant, there are a few critters to look | | | | spraying the hosta leaves will commercial deer |
| out for. | | | | repellant. |
| Slugs and Snails These are the most common | | | | Rabbits, squirrels, and voles These small garden |
| hosta pests. Unchecked they can wreak havoc on | | | | visitors can make a mess of a hosta garden. |
| your plants, chewing small round holes in the | | | | Rabbits make a spring salad of tender shoots, |
| leaves until the foliage looks like Swiss cheese. | | | | squirrels may dig the plants out of the ground, |
| Fortunately slugs and snails are easy to spot and | | | | and voles feast on the roots. Try surrounding the |
| easy to control. | | | | plants with hardware-cloth cages. |
| Commercial slug pellets and baits are the most | | | | Diseases |
| sure-fire method of controling these pests; even | | | | Hostas are generally very disease-resistant, |
| a fairly significant infestation can be eliminated | | | | though they occasionally fall victim to bacterial or |
| quickly. But if you go this route, be sure to follow | | | | viral infections. Bacterial soft rot, which makes the |
| package directions carefully, as the active | | | | stems soft and mushy with a distinctive |
| ingredients can be poisonous to animals and birds. | | | | unpleasant smell, is both difficult to treat and very |
| If you're reluctant to use chemicals, you can try | | | | infectious. Plants with symptoms of bacterial soft |
| setting beer traps. Simply fill a shallow container | | | | rot should be discarded. |
| (like a pie tin) with beer and set it out near the | | | | Viral diseases generally cause spotting or irregular |
| plants overnight. The theory is that the slugs and | | | | mottling on the leaves, but may also cause the |
| snails will crawl into the container but will be unable | | | | leaves to look burnt around the edges. Like |
| to crawl back out. | | | | bacterial disease, hostas viruses are highly |
| Deer Deer are fond of hosta leaves and can | | | | infectious and difficult to eradicate, so disposing of |
| munch a path of destruction through your garden | | | | infected plants is the best bet. |