| Part of successfully growing hostas is arranging | | | | dead growth, then put the pots into a hole or |
| for them to have a period of rest and | | | | trench large enough to bring the top of the |
| regeneration at the end of each growing season. | | | | container to ground level or a few inches above |
| Wintering-over hostas isn't a difficult process, but | | | | ground level. Cover the top of the pots with a |
| it is an important one. | | | | commercially-available insulating blanket, then top |
| Hostas get their cue to enter a dormant state in | | | | with a piece of plywood to keep out excess |
| the fall, but it's the change in the length of daylight | | | | moisture and small scavengers like mice and voles. |
| rather than change in temperature that gives | | | | If that's not feasible, try digging a shallow trench |
| them the signal. Whether your area is warm or | | | | that will permit you to tip the pots on their sides |
| cool, your hostas will start to die back in the | | | | (important to prevent excess water from pooling, |
| autumn. This is crucial for the plants, which cannot | | | | seeping into the soil, and eventually rotting the |
| do without a dormant period. | | | | roots). Cover with an insulating blanket or pine |
| Gradually cut back on watering and stop fertilizing | | | | brush, but don't use black plastic (like garbage |
| all together when the plant starts to die back in | | | | bags), which would trap too much warmth and |
| the fall. It's a good idea to trim away dead leaves, | | | | could cause early thawing. |
| which lessens the possibility of bacterial problems. | | | | You can also winter-over potted hostas by |
| If your hostas are planted in the ground, wintering | | | | keeping them in a cool, dry, dark place (like a |
| over is a simple matter of making sure all dead | | | | basement, garage, or crawl space). Cover the |
| leaves have been trimmed away, then adding a | | | | tops of the pots with weighted-down plywood for |
| couple of inches of mulch to cover. | | | | mouseproofing, but make sure you can remove |
| If you're growing hostas in pots rather than in the | | | | the cover because about half way through the |
| ground, wintering over is a bit more complicated. | | | | winter you need to check for moisture. If the soil |
| The right kind of soil is important; soil that holds | | | | feels very dry, add some water so the roots |
| too much moisture can create root rot during the | | | | stay moist. |
| dormant period, but potted hostas do need some | | | | In the spring, move plants outside or uncover |
| moisture to get them through the winter. Keep | | | | before the spring thaw is complete but be |
| watering lightly as the plant dies back. | | | | prepared to recover plants if the weather reverts |
| There are several ways that potted hosteas can | | | | to freezing. |
| be wintered over. One solution is to trim back all | | | | |