Here are some that I discovered and rescued - they were being driven out by myrtle and ivy! My mom planted them years ago and I had no idea they were in there at all! poor little things. I'm sure they'll come back. I just dumped a bunch of composted horse manure on them yesterday, too, so they should really like that!
Pirl love that pic. I esp love the little teeny weeny hostas they're soooooo cute! I need to get me some!
Pirl - that shade garden with all the hosta varieties and that lovely little sculpture is really beautiful. I would find a million reasons to walk by it constantly!
My hosta are sorely in need of division, but the clumps are so big and so old I just keep avoiding it, knowing that my back will never recover from the digging and separating. This patio will certainly have a different look if the virus heads my way!
Thanks. The table and chairs are right next to that garden so we see it all the time.
What a lovely setting you have there. Do not dig the hosta! Use a strong knife in September - October and just carve through the plants while they're in the ground and remove a chunk from each one and replant the chunks. Less than half the job of digging and dividing. Pack the hole from where the chunk was taken with compost and you're done.
I subscribe to the 'machete' version of dividing hosta, too.
Don't throw things at me, Thom!
I've only divided on hosta so far and that was a mature Lancifolia that my father in law gave me. I did the carve up in the ground method as Pirl described, as they was no way I could lift that root ball. I did it early summer, when it was fully leafed out and within a few days all the divisions bounced right back.
I'm wondering if you can use that method to keep down the size of some of them if you wanted to. I know that I have some cultivars that are probably too large for my small garden, yet I still enjoy them. I don't want to have to get rid of them if there is a way to keep them in check. I think up here hosta can get mighty big as opposed to in the south, from what I've heard. But then, I've read some hosta people say that dividing can really set a hosta back....which doesn't sound like a good thing, right?
Moving a hosta can set it back a year from all I've read but thank God my plants don't read and don't know about it. I've never had a problem with dividing. I only prefer fall so they'll start making new roots right away in the cut section and if that's filled with compost or deodorized manure they'll love it. Maybe I also prefer fall because it's still sweaty work and easier to do in September than busy April and insane May.
Technically dividing the plant while it's in the ground isn't moving it at all. It works.
I don't think some of mine read, either, Pirl. I moved that large Regal Splendor that I posted earlier...and I moved it at the height of summer, on a steamy day! It wasn't steamy in the morning when I started, but it ended up being quite a chore and took hours. I was sweating buckets. Ugh, I never want to move that again. Anyway, it never missed a beat after that and it's looking gorgeous this year, too. The only one I have that came back worse than the previous year was Tokudama Flovocircinalis. I've tried to move all the hosta I want to move over the last month...lesson learned- no moving hosta at the height of summer!
Hostas rarely require dividing. It's usually just a personal decision. They don't start under performing like some other plants. When I do it, I also try to do it in the ground. I just use a sharp spade and plunge right in.
I've heard that too, Victor. So maybe hosta only ever need dividing if you're like me and cram them in too close together! ;)
Actually, because of HVX, I'm really trying not to do that. On the Hallson forum, someone posted that they planted a new, small hosta between two large, mature ones. When the small hosta showed signs of HVX, she felt she had to destroy the mature ones as well. For people with vast hosta gardens, with one hosta blending into the next, I don't see why there couldn't be a falling dominoe effect if root proximity is such a great threat.
Do you have a picture of your mature Tokudama?
I am getting a starter plant next week, can't decide where to put it.
But according to Thom's info, the fluid would have to get into the others. I doubt this would happen with just the roots touching.
That's how I feel too, Victor. But it seems like there are certain things not known with absolute certainty about HVX. Also, if you do have a sick hosta very close to a healthy one, how ARE you gonna get it out without damaging both root systems at once? I posted on the Hosta forum about the dilemma of what to do with the hole left after I removed by my infected Halcyon. I got all the big roots out, but I know there are tiny ones still in there. Most people said that they would not chance putting another hosta in that spot for one year....even if I took precautions such as lining the hole with a layer of newsprint before adding fresh soil and a new hosta. IMO, there would be little chance of sap passing from the tiny leftover bits of root, thru the newspaper, and into a fresh wound on the roots of the new hosta. Even so, I ended up putting brunnera there instead....mainly because I just thought it looked nice.
If you are going to wait one year before putting another hosta in place of an infected one, by my reasoning, you should wait one year before even swapping places with two healthy appearing ones. But I doubt people do that...I know I don't. That's why I'm sure I've got dormant HVX all over my garden :(
Here is the Brunnera in place of my virused Halcyon. Eventually I think I will put Hosta 'First Frost' in there, or maybe something smaller.
This message was edited May 31, 2008 10:03 AM
Jack frost does look comfy with those great rocks, nice marriage with darker plants too.
I guess if they're that close and the roots are entwined, then that's true. What a bummer.
I know, the whole HVX thing is a major bummer. I'm just determined to enjoy my plants as long as I have them and to take proper precautions from here on.
Thanks ge- I wish I had a mature Tokudama to show you. Mine is going into it's third season, but it still only has two eyes, so it's quite small. The leaves look nice this year, though. Big and thick..last year it just looked puny and lousy overall. I may have to move it again though, gulp, because I think I have it in too much afternoon sun. I think it will melt off all the pretty blue. But, I also read somewhere recently that sun will make Tokudamas grow faster...not sure if that's true?
Anyway, here is mine. I do love this hosta.
Victor - the one hosta that did decline when I didn't divide it soon enough was Frances Williams. She's now been moved and I can divide it more often.
Noreaster - hostas and daylilies can be moved on the hottest of days as long as they're planted immediately and watered in sufficiently. I've done it often enough. Back in April and May I was moving daylilies on some hot days and one clump was over 40 pounds, without a doubt. It's always a struggle but I wanted to maintain the clump size.
Nice placement of the Brunnera in the vacancy you had. Good luck with that virus. I've never had it happen.
Yes, I also have moved/divided both at all times. They are (despite the hosta virus) among the most carefree plants around. Except if you have deer or slugs.
Echoing what pirl and victor both stated, I have moved every hosta I own, until recently, at all times through the year. It is plain old easier to move/divide them either when their shoots are just emerging (when they look like snakes or some strange alien creatures) or in August/September when some of the leaves die back and you can actually see where the stalks meet the crowns.
I'm not sure if this is good advice or not, but it's something I will definitely consider if, and only IF it does happen to me; in regard to HVX. Many of my hosta are growing close and I have beds that are specifically designated hosta beds. If one of them do get infected, more than likely what I will do, is take a sponge, soaked in RoundUp, and wipe the leaves of the infected plant. I know that Round up is a systemic herbicide, so this method of application wouldn't offer the "drift" of spraying, and since the leaves will shrivel, dry, and die back, I would hope to not infect the other hosta near the infected one. Again, this is complete theory, and I have not done this, nor do I want to, it's something that I may do IF I have HVX rear it's ugly head.
For me, and this is in regard to dividing again, daylilies tend to look awkward if divided when they have scapes up, so I will only divide them if there are no scapes showing (usually beginning of the Spring) or after that particular plant has flowered, will I divide or move it. I have moved them when scapes were up, and I have had them flower, but I have also had them not flower. In regard to Hosta, I have divided them at all times through the year, but on the hottest days of the summer, and Pirl touched base on this, if the plants aren't immediately placed in water, or immediately potted up, and the hole left where the division was taken from NOT filled in and watered in, I have had die back, leaves shrivel, or whole plant just "tank." If someone was dividing hostas, or taking cuttings, I would almost have to recommend dividing hosta in the early morning, or early evening, and avoid the hottest part of the day.
Both hosta and daylilies are probably some of the toughest most forgiving perennials for offer, each can have their own problems, HVX and rust. I have seen things done in bad practice, and have seen both DL's and Hosta bounce back with so much fervor that if they could, they would stick up a middle finger and stick their tongues out saying, "Can't get rid of me that easily!" Anyone that has the old plain green hostas know what I'm talking about, or anyone who has ever planted the H. fulva "Ditch Lilies" know exactly what I'm writing about.
Sorry for rambling, they are my most favoritest, my bestest growing, and all time easiest plants to have! :-)
Over on his forum, Chris Hallson addressed the Round Up idea and didn't seem to feel it was effective, due to the sheer toughness of hosta in general, as you guys have already mentioned. Sure doesn't seem like it could hurt, though, if you want the plant gone. Is there something even stronger than Round Up?
One idea he did mention, for dealing with an infected hosta in close proximity to another, is to wait until after the plants have gone dormant and the ground is nearly, but not totally frozen. That way, the plants are not actively pumping sap and it may decrease the chances of sap to sap root transmission. And then, cut down straight into the crown as if you were dividing it and then take it out in chunks from there. I imagine then you would leave the roots that are closer to the other hosta and hope that in the Spring, the offending ones are gone.
That sounds like a good idea. Brush-B-Gone is more powerful than Rondup. That's what I use on PI and on woody stuff.
Does that work the same way, Victor, by soaking in thru the leaves but not harming anything nearby (as long as it doesn't get on their leaves?)
Yes.
I am in awe of everyone's hosta. I'll have to take a few shots of mine. As for your snake encounter Noreaster...I feel your pain. I only have ribbon and garter here, but that is more than enough!! I spray liquid fence http://www.liquidfence.com/snake-repellents.html . It seems to do the trick. When I was having work done on my house a few years back, something change in the foundation. I kept getting them in my basement!!! I think I've solved that problem. Needless to say, I was terrified of my basement. That wasn't so good as that is where the washer/dryer are!
I'm afraid to use liquid fence cause I don't want to trap him in the yard!! I gather he is living in the rock wall that is just behind our fence, and he comes forward into the yard to hunt. My husband is blaming my interest in gardening on the fact that we have a snake now. Particularly, my little fountain. It's always something, I swear.
My friend in VA has horrific stories of living with those big old black snakes in her house..not only the basement, but the attic. One actually crashed thru her kitchen ceiling in the middle of the night because there was a damaged spot in the sheetrock there. It was a snake with others wrapped around it, writhing. I told her I'd have to move!
I am so thankful that the whole time I lived in VA, I never saw one, but I gather they are everywhere and infest a lot of houses. And I seriously don't know how anyone can stand to live in areas that have high concentrations of dangerous snakes. Guess I'll be staying here with our nine months of winter!
My garter snake was just way too big...a tiny one with an empty tummy would maybe have not upset me so much.
Noreaster - Winter Sowing here. No grow lights involved. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/coldsow/all/
Off topic from hostas, but about snakes - a neighbor and I were talking a few days ago and she told me they had a snake that kept sunning itself right outside their door. Since, like me, they appreciate ecology and know that snake helps keep the rodent population down, they didn't want to kill it, but they sure didn't want it right outside the door either. A friend of theirs told them to plant, or all things, peppermint! So they did, and Blanche said it really worked! She also said that since then, they've put peppermint in their vegetable garden, too and it has deterred all kinds of bugs, too. I just ordered some seeds and I'll probably plant it in pots, and put some of the pots in the ground to keep it under control.
I knew herbs can make terrific companion plants (my herb garden is trouble-free other than weeding and chasing out the lily of the valley that was in there before I came along) but I had never heard this about peppermint. I've known those neighbors a long time, and they're very perceptive about nature and their gardens, so if they say it works, I certainly believe them!
I have no idea what these plain green hostas are, but they're unstoppable. They get bigger than all the other ones and grow much faster. I divided two of these this year and you can't even tell. Yesterday, I popped an entire one out and it's barely noticed since the other ones are so huge. I guess I'll have to start a few more shade beds for them! I didn't like the plain green ones much years ago when I moved back, but I've really come to appreciate them for their hardiness and because they set off the variegated ones so nicely.
Shirley:
That looks just like the three or four hosta that I have here on the property. It was all here when we moved in four years ago, and even though we have moved the hosta several times, it seems to thrive and get bigger no mater where we 'drop' it!
When I get plants that have no directions I find a website that carries that plant and look it up ,some nurseries include that information .
Thanks for the link, Carrie.
I agree, the plain green ones do set off the variegated ones. I have to force myself to buy more solids for that reason...I tend to overlook the non variegated ones.
This is my young Love Pat. I know it will be a while for this one to mature, but I look forward to it.
Very pretty - looks refreshing and cool. I love the fern.
Love this hosta - forgot the name.
Noreaster, that is a lovely hosta, but I'm in love with the ferns. Japanese sonethingorother? They're gorgeous! I've seen them in nurseries without tags and worried they wouldn't be hardy. How long have you had them?
If you're wanting of any plain green hosta, I have one divided into 5-6 sections and ready to go - was going to take all of it to a plant swap at the Audubon Society this weekend, but I'll send you some if you're interested.
Love Pat in 2005. If it's not raining tomorrow I'll get a new photo of it. Huge!
That's a pretty hosta, Victor. I like the green and gold ones best of all. Stained Glass is so beautiful.
Miss Fabulous, I bought my Japanese Painted Ferns at the local True Value hardware store, and the owner thought they were indoor plants and wouldn't be hardy here. I bought them in '06, and they seem really happy here and grow quickly. This pic is from last year...you could barely see Love Pat, but hopefully this year you will be able to. They seem to have more red in them in the Spring, but they stay pretty all season.
Thanks for your generous green hosta offer, but right now I already have more hosta than I have places for...I'm playing musical hosta, trying to decide what can stay and what needs to find a new home.
I'm looking forward to your mature Love Pat, Pirl. I think Love Pat is supposed to be highly resistant to HVX, so it's one of my few that I don't stress out about.
I love the Japanese Silver Painted ferns, too. I have 'Ghost' but I don't care for it as much as the kind you show. Love those red stems! I put some Heuchera with it to highlight the stems.
Oh pirl, I just love the ghost ferns, too! They just shine in the shade when the light comes thru the branches.
Here are some of my ghosts, with Island Charm in the pot
I like them behind Parhelion, too.
Parhelion is gonna have to move after this season...I need to find a smaller gold hosta to replace it. Maybe Stained Glass?
