hosta roots gone

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debi_z Springfield, MA(Zone 6a) Aug 31, 2003

i was mulching and cleaning my garden beds in back recently and 2 of the hosta plants came completely up in my hands, with no roots attached. there were holes underneath, where i believe the roots were. first i was thinking maybe a snake hole on the first because i saw a hole coming out of the side of the first one. but then i was reading and someone said that slugs can live underground and eat away your hosta roots. i have been battling with those buggers this year. they also ate 15 of the 16 foxglove plants a friend gave me.
help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what do you think is happening?

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Countrymom Cuyahoga Falls, OH(Zone 5a) Aug 31, 2003

This is just a guess - I looked up hosta in my books and one problem might be root rot. Maine had a very wet season, didn't it ? The little round hole could be moles or chipmunks. However, this doesn't seem plausable to me because I have grown hosta for over 30 years and we have lots of moles and chipmunks and I have never known the hosta to loose its root system. If you have even the tiniest hair root, or a tiny little white root, stick your hosta back in the ground. Cut the foliage down to about 2" and prepare it for winter. Don't give up on it - wait and see if it emerges next spring.

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ButterflyGardnr Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Aug 31, 2003

Kell, slugs (and snails) *LOVE* hostas, but you would likely see some damage on the leaves from them feeding. I can't imagine they ONLY eat the roots. I'd play wait and see, too. It might come back next season.

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sunnygirl47 Tuckerton, NJ Jul 30, 2005

Sounds like voles! I lost a whole hasta garden to them a few years ago. They tunnel under the ground and eat roots along the way. If the plant is small enough they will pull the whole thing right down into the hole and eat it too! Just like the cartoons!! I've been battling them for years. Do you see holes in your garden? You should also see evidence of their tunnels by a line of slightly raised earth. They are only the size of mice, but deadly to the garden. Also very hard to get rid of.

Carol

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