What’s Wrong with My Hosta?

While genus Hosta are broadly speaking considered to be easy - care plants , some pestilence , disease , and growing conditions can cause problems . Here are a few of the most plebeian culprits .

Anthracnose

What it looks like : Leaves have large , irregular , tan or dark-brown spots with dark border .

What to do : Anthracnose is a fungal disease that stimulate aesthetic equipment casualty but rarelykills hosta plants . tender temperatures and extended periods of leaf wetness further the spreading of the fungus . Anything that you may do to keep leaves dry , like using dripping irrigation and spacing plants aside for good atmosphere movement , can help to stem the development and spread of anthracnose . Remove infect leaves as presently as you notice them , and dispose of them in the meth , not the compost .

Deer damage

What it bet like : Deer can have heavy or even complete defoliation , bequeath ragged bound on the remaining petioles and leaves .

What to do : An 8- to 10 - foot- marvellous fence is the only ( nearly ) surefire room to keep deer away from hostas . Scent deterrents based on rotten egg , dried line of descent , feather meal , or other bad feel may also keep deer away ; switch products regularly to keep the deer from becoming habituated . you may move out damaged parts , or cut the whole plant back to the ground to advance raw increase .

Root damage from voles

What it looks like : The first thing you may notice is wilt plants that lift easy from the priming coat because roots have been sever . You may also see that an entire section of a plant has melt overnight into a previously unnoticed tunnel .

What to do : I am a strong advocate for vole baits with Vitamin D as the dynamic factor , which we have found to be very good on rodents and good for nontarget pests . As a 2d agency of control , try incorporating minor pea crushed rock into the soil around the roots of your hostas . Do n’t bother with planting in conducting wire baskets . They are a disaster to dig around , and voles can simply climb over the edges .

Slug damage

What it looks like : Slugs make smooth - march , irregularly work holes , often along leaf edges or between veins , and allow for slimy trails on leave-taking and nearby ground .

What to do : conserve an organically healthy garden that advance born predators . Keep the flora free of stress with proper nutritional balance , moisture , and grow conditions . Use only organic fertilizers , and natural predators like frogs and toads will keep the slugs in assay . We have not used a slug bait in over 32 twelvemonth , and slugs are prolific in our neighborhood .

Hail damage

What it look like : Hail causes jagged , bust holes between nervure , specially on the outer part of leaves .

What to do : If possible , protect your plants with rag , reverse nursery pots , or other resilient covering when hail is predicted . Remove damaged leaves , and if the wrong is stark , cut plants to the priming and allow them to resprout . Your plants may be slightly small the following yr , but not importantly so .

See some of our favorites hostas in10 Amazing Hostas .

Tony Avent is the owner of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh , North Carolina .

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