With the right planning, hostas (Hosta spp.)and hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.)are perfect partners. Both thrive in part shade, while hostas even tolerate the deeper shade cast by the taller shrubs.
Azaleas, hollies, yews, mahonia, gardenia, loropetalum and boxwood shrubs will look good planted in front of hydrangeas. Azaleas blossoms will provide early color. You can select your favorite blossom color since the azalea blooms will have faded before your hydrangea is flowering.
What plant pairs well with hostas?
Astilbe, ferns, geraniums, and shady-friendly bulbs are great companions for hostas. Two of our favorites: bleeding hearts and heuchera. Bleeding heart (dicentra) plants provide delicate flowers and elegant, arching branches — the perfect contrast to bold, shiny, or variegated hosta plants.
Where should you not plant hostas?
It’s important to know that these perennials grow best in soil that’s fertile and full of organic matter. Avoid planting hostas in heavy clay soil, which won’t offer enough drainage. In areas that receive a lot of snow in the winter, to protect stems and leaves, place hostas where snow tends to pile up.
Can you plant hostas with hydrangeas? – Related Questions
Do hostas like to be crowded?
Overcrowding Plants
Although it’s tempting to plant hostas closely for a mature look, it’s not good for them. Overcrowding impedes their growth, and reduced air circulation can lead to foliage problems. Space plants according to plant tag directions.
Should hostas be cut back for winter?
As a general rule, hostas should be cut back in the late fall. Start with leaves that have wilted or turned brown. Healthy leaves can stay a bit longer to help the roots store needed energy. If 25% or more of the hostas is dying, you will know it is time to cut it back.
How far away from the house should you plant hostas?
Can you plant hostas next to your house?
‘ can be planted right behind them. Since hostas return reliably every year, you can count on them to fill the beds up near your home with no fuss, no muss color and texture.
What happens if you plant hostas in full sun?
Although they’re known for their shade-tolerance, most hosta varieties perform well when exposed to a bit of morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much sun exposure will result in burned leaves, starting from the edges inward. The leaves will look brown, dry, and papery.
Are hostas better in pots or ground?
As they thrive in a water-retentive soil they’re ideal for planting in a bog garden but they should not be treated as an aquatic marginal. For this reason they are often planted by, but never in, a pond. When growing in pots, ensure there are plenty of drainage holes as waterlogged soil will kill the plant.
When should you cut the blooms off of hostas?
The American Hosta Society recommends cutting off each scape after three-fourths of the flower buds have opened; this keeps the plants from diverting energy into setting seeds for the next year so instead they’ll grow more roots and leaves.
Can you leave hostas in pots over winter?
You can keep your hostas in containers from year to year, but it’s not as easy as overwintering the ones in the garden itself. In fact, some folks will plant their container hostas in the ground for the winter. Other gardeners bury their pots outside, so that the roots are underground, just as a garden hosta would be.
Do hostas get bigger every year?
Hostas are perennials, which means they will come back bigger and better every year. Most hostas grow well in Zones 3 to 9. These versatile shade plants form a mound of leaves but vary greatly by variety, offering differences in plant size, leaf shape, and leaf color.
What does Epsom salt do for hostas?
Application of Epsom salt in hostas reduces the stunted growth, makes their leaves greener and thicker as it boosts chlorophyll levels. It also facilitates bushier plant growth and their resistance to diseases and pests.
Should you water hostas everyday?
Hostas are drought tolerant, yet like moist well drained soil. If the weather is hotter, increase the watering to three times per week. Large hostas should be watered two times per week and daily during hot weather, especially if it gets more sun. Hostas growing in pots will require more frequent watering.
How many years do hostas live?
In good conditions, Hostas can live for 30 years or more. There are gardeners around with 50-year-old Hostas. What often happens is that they die prematurely because of a rough year.
What happens if you don’t divide hostas?
You’ll know your hostas need to be divided when they get too crowded and the center of a clump starts to die out. As a general rule, count on dividing the plants every three to four years to keep them at their healthiest. Some slow-growing varieties may need more time before they’re ready for division.
How do you keep hostas looking good?
How to Care for Hostas
Apply a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer after planting or when growth emerges in the spring.
Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
If the soil tends to dry out quickly, consider placing mulch around the plants to help retain moisture, but be aware that mulch can be a hiding place for slugs.
Will dead hostas come back?
Once pruned off, hosta leaves will not regrow until the following season.
Should I cut off dead hosta leaves?
Dead leaves are pest-friendly, so you’ll do well to start pruning hosta plants as the foliage fades. Trim back all the leaves and foliage at ground level, then bag it up and dispose of it. That helps things look neat in the garden and keeps bugs from overwintering snugly in the dead leaves.
