Essential Tips for Caring for Hostas in Spring
- John Plant
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Signs of Spring are all around us now. Snowdrops are over, Daffodils and Aconites are still hanging on, and we are patiently waiting for our overwintering Hostas to show their lovely pips.
Soil temperatures are staring to warm up, and some of our Hostas have started to burst through the soil surface, others are still thinking about it.
Most of our UK Hostas start to emerge around about Mid to late March and into April, depending on weather conditions.
Consideration to proper early-season care should be given to ensure healthy plants, vibrant leaves and fewer problems later in the season.
Spring rains can be beneficial but could encourage slugs & snails, and late frost can cause problems. We will discuss these in more detail, later on.
Clean up gently.
Remove any debris sitting on top of the crown to prevent rot and allow the soil to warm up more quickly. This should be done before the pips or eyes emerge, if not, be very careful not to damage them.
Cut back any remaining foliage, if not already done. This should have been done in the autumn but, if not, it definitely needs doing now.
Protect from frost.
Early emerging Hostas may have very delicate shoots and are prone to late frost and the damage it can do. Whilst the plant as such may be hardy to frost, the new leaves are still very tender. At this time of year, keep an eye on the forecast for overnight frost. If a hard frost is forecast, ensure you can protect the foliage from it, overnight. This could be with fleece, upturned buckets, or with smaller Hosta, simply covering with an upturned pot. These can be removed in the morning, when warmed up a little, to prevent trapping the warm air.
Feeding
This may be a great time to think about feeding your Hostas to give that little extra boost for the spring. I wouldn’t tend to do this until after the last frost.
Use a balanced, slow-release fertiliser, but don’t get it on any foliage. Put it around the crown, not on it. The fertiliser will almost certainly scorch the foliage with contact.
The alternative to fertiliser is to use an organic mulch such as compost which will provide gentle nutrients to the crown.
Do not over-fertilise, as too much nitrogen can make the leaves more prone to pest & disease.
Watering
Usually, in Spring, there has been enough rainfall as to not have to worry about watering. However, we do occasionally have a dry Spring, when you need to keep an eye on the moisture content, and water accordingly. Water at the base, not on the leaves, to reduce disease risk, whilst maintaining good drainage.
Mulching
Once the shoots are a few inches tall, it is time to mulch, if not already done. We normally do most of our mulching in autumn for overwinter tidiness and slug protection.
We tend to use a fine bark as this is easily manageable, easy to handle. Do not cover the crown with any mulch. Cover the crown with compost.
The mulch should be no more than 1” deep, as this will prevent rain getting to the soil beneath.
The mulch, if done properly, will help keep moisture in the soil and will help prevent pest & diseases.
Slug Protection
As your Hostas are emerging, the shoots are very delicate and prone to attack from slugs & snails. It is important that this issue is tackled before the shoots get too big. As soon as your pips start to appear start your regime for slug protection. Obviously, if you use garlic spray or nematodes you can’t use these just yet. You need to wait until the leaves are open.
Dividing or Transplanting
Another little job that is often overlooked until the plants are a lot more advanced is dividing and transplanting.
Early spring is a good time to divide or transplant.
When the crown is big enough, divide just as the shoots emerge. Don’t leave it until the foliage arrives. It is a lot easier without the leaves and there is much less damage.
Transplant in cooler conditions and water well, to reduce stress. More information about dividing will also be addressed in a later blog.
Other things to watch out for are attacks from rabbits, deer and other insects.
Check leaves before the problem escalates and protect with physical barriers such as netting or fencing.
A little attention to spring maintenance will reward you for the season.
Start as you mean to go on. Keep it clean, watch out for damage and feed and water as needed.
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John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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