|
| |
Care of Established Hostas
Through the Zone 5 Seasons at Dogwood Farm
LATE WINTER/ EARLY SPRING (Late February
or Early March--While plants are still completely beneath the soil)
Clean beds of all dead foliage--Kill
chickweed and other evergreen weeds with Roundup--Before applying mulch,
sprinkle about 2 Tablespoons of crystallized urea around the root zones of
your hosta. Be very careful NOT to contact the crown or to use more
than the recommended amount. After doing these things, then we mulch
at the farm.
SPRING (When the dogwoods bloom)
Spread a handful (small plants) to three
handsful (giant plants) of timed-release, high nitrogen, pellet fertilizer
(Sierra Blen or Osmacote) around the plant. These are costly products, and
to save money, you can use 12-12-12 if you wish. Again, be careful to
avoid contact with the plant crown! With your fingers, work this into
the mulch or soil. WATER generously every three days if there is no rain. Another
fertilizing option would be to use Peters or Miracle Gro water soluble
fertilizer every week for the first six weeks of growth, BUT this surface
watering will wash off the glaucous coating from your blue hostas.
Protect young growth of very early hostas
from bright sun, premature heat spells, and late frosts to obtain beautiful
early foliage. Most vulnerable hostas are Frances Williams, Color Glory,
Wagon Wheels, Brim Cup, and hostas with large white areas on their leaves.
Put out slug bait or begin slug prevention
measures.
SUMMER
Water plants regularly. They need water every
three days. Every three days without rain, water generously.
Watch for slug damage. Use the beer or wet
newspaper treatment to reduce slug populations around plants being damaged.
After bloom finishes, trim off bloomscapes
unless you want to collect the seed later.
Dividing of your hosta is not necessary.
Don't divide your plants unless they get too large or you want new
divisions of the plant to use elsewhere. Dividing can be done any time
during the growth season, but avoid hot humid or dry weather. The
best times are early or late summer.
AUTUMN
If slugs have been a problem, consider
cleaning away dead plant matter that will harbor next summer's pests. If you
decide to burn off dead vegetation, this is the time to do that as well.
Collect mature seeds for propagation.
WINTER
Watch for heaving of young or transplanted
hostas. Push them back into temporarily thawed surface soil and protect the
plant from harsh winter winds with loose leaves or a piece of loosely woven,
transparent garden cloth. (Reemay or Gardener's Supply Garden Quilt works
very well!) To prevent further heaving, put a brick, block or board over the
plant until late February.
|
