Hostas are one of the most beautiful shade-loving perennials! Their green leaves with yellow and blue tones are stunning decorations that your garden needs. They can beautify every shady corner of your garden and provide you with a stunning display year after year!
I was blown away by their appearance the first time I saw them, so I started planting them right away. In the first weeks, everything went very well, until I noticed that my hostas began to look worse day after day!
After doing some research to find out the reason behind my not-so-good-looking hostas, I discovered that I had skipped a few important steps while growing them. Luckily, I was able to fix my hostas in a very short time, and believe it or not, they continue to thrive!
If you also have hostas, or are thinking about planting them, you’ll need to keep an eye out for a few things. Mistakes can be easily made, and that can be the reason why your hostas might stop blooming altogether!
But that won’t happen to your hostas, thanks to all the tricks I’m about to show you. There are five common mistakes, and now you’ll learn about them to ensure that your hostas will bloom for many years!
#1 Don’t Ignore Slugs And Snails The Next Time You Spot Them On Your Hostas
The first mistake you can make while growing hostas is ignoring some of the dangerous pests. They can damage hostas’ growth way more than you might think! Pests that you should keep an eye out for are slugs and snails.
These crawlers are the number one problem that your hostas need to deal with! They love chewing on your hostas’ leaves, it’s their most delicious treat. If you spot holes in the hostas’ leaves it’s time to take action!
You can drive these pests away by tricking them. Cut a few slices of cucumber and leave them outside your garden. By doing this, you’ll provide another source of food to slugs and snails, and they won’t be interested in your hostas anymore!
Another great way to remove them from your garden is by using coffee grounds or repelling them with aromatic herbs (they can’t stand the smell)!
#2 Hostas Need Room To Breathe, And Overcrowding Won’t Be A Good Idea
Have you ever experienced that claustrophobic feeling when being in crowded places or places where you can’t move because the space is so tiny (like elevators, my worst nightmare)? Well, your hostas can feel that, too!
They need enough space to expand properly and make your garden beautiful. If you plant them too close to each other, it will reduce air circulation and impact their growth, which can lead to a terrible disaster!
I know that you want a fuller and glossier look, but you’ll need to space them at least one to three feet apart so they can grow happily and without being overcrowded.
#3 Make Sure To Never Leave Soil Surfaces Exposed
Even though hostas are drought-tolerant plants, they still love moist and well-drained soil! But what your hostas don’t like is exposed soil surfaces. Leaving soil around your hostas uncovered can lead to weed growth and moisture loss, which can damage your plants!
What you’ll need to do to avoid this mistake is use mulch. You can sprinkle organic materials such as shredded bark, leaves, homemade compost, and pine needles for this!
This will keep your hostas safe through the winter, keeping them weed-free, and retain all the moisture they need for thriving.
#4 Don’t Even Think About Planting Hostas In A Sunny Area
Planting your hostas in sunny areas is a big no-no! You’ll need to place them in full shade because that’s where they will thrive season after season. The sun can be harmful to your plants and even bleach their stunning green leaves!
Another reason why a sunny spot won’t work is that hostas like moist soil. They tend to dry out faster, and the sun will speed up that process. It will be best to grow them under trees or a covered patio!
These easy tips and tricks will help you grow your hostas without making any mistakes! Knowing where you might make mistakes can save your hostas and help them thrive for years.
I learned that knowledge is power! So, every time I tried growing or planting something I always first did some research. This saves many of my plants including hostas, which now blooms perfectly without any complications!
Now you should check your hostas and do every step you’ve learned today. Trust me, the results will blow you away! Once you see how beautifully your hostas thrive, you’ll be thankful you discovered these tips early.
Good luck!