Gardening with Hostas

If you have never grown hostas you may want to consider them for your part sun/part shade areas of your yard.

• These plants will tolerate afternoon shade and thrive with just the right amount of sunlight.
• They also multiply year after year so you don't have to buy new ones each year to fill in.
• Just move the new sprouts around to fill in gaps./li>

What Type of Soil is Needed for Hostas

The hostas need rich loamy soil to grow in.

• You make the soil rich by adding organic matter. You need to make sure that it drains well and adding this matter will also do this. Compost, manure that has rotted, and peat moss are just some of the organic matter that you can add at this point./li>

In a new garden area you need to dig down at least to a depth of a foot to 16 inches.

• Add at least several inches of the organic matter and work it into the soil real good.
• You may also think about making a raised bed configuration for you hostas.
• This will allow the soil to drain really well. Hostas also need a certain pH to the soil to thrive correctly.
• Somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 is a perfect pH zone for the hostas.
• Make sure to pick up some compost bin replacement filters, so that you don't run out.
• If you need to lower the pH try some cottonseed meal to the soil./li>

How to Plant

Hostas need a hole that is about 12 inches deep and about the width of what the full-grown plant is going to be.

• Then remove the hosta from the pot you bought it in and gently spread the roots out.
• You can even cut into the root ball if you have to, to loosen them up.
• Put it into the hole you just dug for it and fill in with the rich soil.
• Pat down soil and as with all other plants water well./li>

Care of Hostas

As hostas grow they will need to be periodically fertilized. There are many types of fertilizers on the market for this purpose in various forms.

• Check into which form works best for your situation. It really depends on your soil's needs. Make certain though to apply the fertilizer on the soil and not on fresh growth for you may burn the plant this way. Follow the recommendations for your particular as far as when to apply it./li>

Hostas need water to thrive properly.

• They need at least one inch weekly whether from rain or other means of watering them.
• If the soil has too much drainage you may have to water more often because it will dry out faster.
• Like most watering of plants, hostas should be watered during the morning hours.
• Good rule of thumb is to check the soil, and if it feels too dry water it, if it feels damp don't water until the next day.
• However, when you do water, don't just do a quick job, deeply water the hostas.
• This helps the roots develop properly./li>

You can easily divide hostas just break or cut them into and plant both pieces.

• They will take hold and multiply again.
• Then you just keep dividing them as needed preferably in the spring of the year.
• Shop through gardening ebooks and purchase one that would help you along the way.

So plant some hostas today, you can find all sorts of variations in colors and sizes. They will add a special touch to your garden.