Can you be brutal with a hosta?
Okay, well with apologies to Hostafan, I have never been a fan of hostas. My mother in law liked them, therefore they remind me of her, therefore I don't like them. Oftentimes in my experience they are covered in holes from snails and slugs, so never really achieve their potential. However, last year I was given 10 roots, and I had nowhere to put them, but thought 'waste not, want not' and stuck them in a few left over pots, where they grew a bit, fed the snails, and died back last winter.
This year, I decided I wanted those pots back for my chillies, and it occurred to me that the hostas could go in my new 'Firebreak border', so I have just tipped out a pot that had four in, to divide them, and it was a mass of roots. I tried to pull the four apart, to no avail, and eventually ended up cutting them away from each other with scissors. I have planted them up, but am wondering whether or not people think they will survive the abuse.
Posts
I had a few huge patches of hostas when we moved in which needed moving. I didnt have the heart to chuck them, although like you, they arent top of my list of favourite plants, so i dug them up, sliced into chunks with a spade and replanted. They are thriving and I now have 20-30 plants filling a border that I really don't know what to do with. So although I don't know a lot about hostas, yeah, I recon they will survive.
I find its always the plants that you don't care about much that tend to thrive despite neglect and abuse!
I reckon they will as well
I've been brutal and never lost a hosta yet
In the sticks near Peterborough
Right - thanks everyone - that gives me the measure of the plant. To be fair to hostas, I have seen some quite nice pictures of them recently, and I think the new position might be good for them - so I may be converted - you never know!!
What have they done FOR mankind ?
Well, the snails have made lace of ours before I even planted them in, but the firebreak border is covered with bark chippings, and maybe they aren't great for sliming along on, so perhaps the Hostas stand a chance there?? The postman brought me some politicians today in leaflet form - I have recycled the BNP, and UKIP (BNP for the middle classes). Fortunate I was standing next to the recycle bin (unfortunate that we live in an area where these parties think they have a chance.)
I just bought hosta "orange marmalade" and walked round the garden so many times to find the ideal spot . I gave up when my hands went numb from the cold and it started raining again (between Edinburgh & Glasgow). I'll go out again in June!
Oh Lesley...! It has gone very cold here today too, but probably nothing for you hardy Scottish folk. I have decided to do nothing radical until the next two cold days are over. Hopefully it won't take until June for you to get a good day to place your maramalade!!