I live in the Midwest and am really lucky that hosta is very easy to grow and one of my favorite perennials. They are great filler plants and background plants in your landscape.They are the kind of plants that just keep giving. In fact, they grow and spread so well that they often need to be divided to keep hosta healthy. Great to use to keep weeds out (but can be used on smaller plants as well). Their steady size makes them perfect plants to transplant around the garden or share with neighbors. Being one of the plants, splitting hosta is very valuable.
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Hosta bugs bit me pretty hard when I discovered that there are many different types of hosta, not just plain green or white-edged ones. I started buying things for I have over 20 and am a bit obsessed. You can sprinkle these different varieties throughout your garden by dividing the root clumps to create new plants. They love living in my shady garden and are low maintenance.
Use a sharp knife, such as a garden knife or spade shovel, to split the hosta and gloves. It doesn’t hurt to protect your eyes.
My favorite tool for dividing and transplanting is called perennials spade thrustl. The small head of the shovel makes it easy to dig behind plants, especially in tight spaces and plants with dense roots. I can say this is my favorite shovel… ever.
Hosta can be divided and transplanted at any time of the year, but it’s really best done in northern climates in early spring, when hosta’s little “snouts” or buds start sticking out of the ground before forming entirely new shoots. is.
These above are almost just past the early nose stage, and once they rise and the weather warms up, they rise and open rapidly. A part of me has already grown a lot. It’s easier when it’s in the bud. Hosta can be divided in late autumn, in September or October, but will fully unfold its leaves before the first frost. It doesn’t like foliage very much, especially if you do it later in the summer, like late July or August, and need to cut back after transplanting. Then they really need to get back on the ground to maximize their chances of survival.
When is the right time to divide hosta? Depending on the cultivar, it generally appears very dense when mature and the space seems a bit crowded (or when neighbors need it or where to fill it). when you need it.lol).
There are two ways to divide and transplant hosta.
A good method is to dig out the entire root ball and place it on the tarp. Section the clumpy root system by cutting them apart. Shake off the excess soil, put the bunches back in place, and fill them with loose soil and plenty of water (then either plant the rest or discard them.). , the leaves should be cut back after transplanting so that the energy is spent establishing roots. It is best to have at least 3 leaf buds per bunch. You can either plant a single shoot with small roots (they are springy!) or you can do it like I did which is the lazy way.
Excavate only the part you need from the ground and leave the rest. Backfill the remaining hole with dirt and water and move on. Afterwards, it is important to give it plenty of water so that it can recover. It’s also important to water new transplants extensively in the first year to avoid transplant shock. That being said, they are pretty hardy!
You can see that these are spread out a bit more, but not quite. Once you’ve dug out the clump, use a shovel to “cut” the root ball. Hosta roots are very hard and tough, so you may need to put a weight behind them and slice them. Plant them in the ground. Add soil to cover the roots and water if necessary.
It’s that easy! They begin to put out leaves and grow. I end up splitting the hosta clumps every other year or so. There was a place that was lost.
You can see that the middle of this lump is completely gone! Some small rodents ate it all winter. They spared me the trouble of splitting the hosta, but it really pisses me off when I eat expensive varieties and prizes (I have friends who live in the woodlands and love deer too!)!
Other tips for growing hosta include:
-They generally don’t like full sun and the August heat can scorch the leaves.
– Loves compost and organic matter. They also thrive in mulch.
– Large chunks of mature hosta will be very heavy. Therefore, the best time to divide is before the leaves appear.
– Hosta can also be grown in patio pots or decorative containers if you water it well.
-Some varieties do well in shade (generally dark leaf varieties). Those with bright leafy foliage can withstand more sunlight.
