Planting Hostas in a Shade Garden
Another interesting and informational episode of "Martha Gardens" is now available exclusively on The Roku Channel - Azaleas, Hostas, and Wild Birds. Be sure to stream it!
Every year here at my farm, I add lots of plants to both existing gardens as well as new spaces. Earlier in spring, in a large area under the shade of my majestic dawn redwoods, Metasequoia, we planted lots of hostas. Hostas, with a palette of so many different colors, textures, and sizes have tremendous landscape value and offer great interest to the garden. The hostas came from Pioneer Gardens, a wholesale company located on the outskirts of Deerfield, Massachusetts.
Enjoy these photos. And be sure to watch "Martha Gardens" to learn more about growing hostas.
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- The hosta is one of America’s favorite shade plants. Hosta is a genus of plants commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies, and occasionally by the Japanese name, giboshi. They are native to northeast Asia and include hundreds of different cultivars.
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- Hostas are perennial plants which grow from rhizomes. Hostas thrive in total shade to nearly full sun which makes them ideal for planting under trees.
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- Hosta leaf textures can be smooth, veined or puckered. Their surfaces may be matt, shiny or waxy but are usually satiny.
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- My plan was to plant lots and lots of hostas in the garden beds under my dawn redwoods. Their lush green foliage, varying leaf shape, size, and texture, and their easy care requirements make them perfect for this area. We planted hundreds of hostas here since 2020 and they’re all doing so excellently.
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- Unlike many perennials, which must be lifted and divided every few years, hostas are happy to grow in place without much interference.
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- Hosta leaves rise up from a central rhizomatous crown to form a rounded to spreading mound. Most varieties tend to have a spread and height of between one and three feet.
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- Across the carriage is an area of younger hostas. I wanted to expand the bed and add some more.
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- For “Martha Gardens,” we received a shipment containing hundreds of bare root hostas from Pioneer Gardens. Bare root is a technique of arboriculture whereby a plant is removed from soil in a dormant state. Here is Ryan organizing and planning where these plants will go in the garden.
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- Bare root stock should be planted within 48 hours of receipt, so it was important to get these plants in the ground right away. In my show, you’ll see me and Pioneer Gardens Arjen Vriend talking about how to divide and propagate plants as well as how to plant these specimens.
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- The soil in this area is already well amended with nutrient-rich compost. Ryan adds fertilizer around the existing plants and those areas where new hostas will be placed.
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- The best hosta plant food is a slow release 10-10-10 fertilizer. Those three numbers stand for the amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in the fertilizer. Slow release fertilizers feed the plant each time it rains or the plant is watered.
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- Ryan positions the hostas where they will be planted depending on the variety and growth habit of the plants. When planting hostas, leave about 30 to 36 inches apart for large varieties, about 18 to 24 inches for medium sized hostas and about a foot to 18 inches for small ones.
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- Here is one of the bare root hosta plants. The roots are healthy and the leaves of the plant are bright green.
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- When planting, it is important to dig a hole wide enough to accommodate all the roots of the hosta without cutting or folding them.
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- This hole is the perfect size – about six to eight inches deep and twice as wide – it gives the plant enough space to spread out its roots.
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- The plant crown is kept at soil level to avoid rot.
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- And then the plant is carefully backfilled.
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- Once the plant is backfilled, it is given a good drink of water. Water, water, water… I always say.
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- The crew works in a production line process to get the job done quickly and efficiently. As one plants, another waters. These plants were done earlier this spring – the best time for planting hostas.
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- The next morning, all the hostas looked so pretty under the morning dappled shade. This area will soon be filled with a drift of gorgeous hostas.
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- Depending on the hosta, it will take a bit of time for the plant to reach maturity. Smaller and more vigorous hostas can reach mature sizes in about three to five years. Giant and slower growing hostas can take five to seven years to reach their potential.
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- Right now, some of the more mature plants are also showing off their tall flowers. Hostas produce flower stalks with multiple flowers that are usually purple to sometimes pale lavender or even white. In the back is a Dicentra plant. Its yellowing leaves in summer are natural and signal the end of the growing period for this cool season plant.
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- Hostas are big, they’re bold, and they’re easy to grow. I hope this inspires you to add some hostas to your garden. And don’t forget – watch “Martha Gardens” exclusively on The Roku Channel for more great ideas and tips.
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