Add Hostas to Your Landscape

I use to plant lots of flowers and plants every year because my wife enjoyed them. She was in a wheelchair so little things like sitting in the backyard and enjoying the flowers and birds meant a lot to her. Maybe a year after she died about 5 years ago, I tore out the flower garden because it was hard to sit on the deck and look at them.

Once I started making changes to my landscape, I decided there were some plants I wanted in the front and back yard. I'm still not into working hard to keep flowers, so I decided there were a couple plants I would use that were low maintenance and would return every year. Day Lillie's and Hosta's and Goose Neck are the ones I found that fit my needs. I'm sure I'll add more as time goes by.

I'll discuss the other plants in future posts, but right now the focus is the Hosta. There is a large variety of Hosta and I won't even attempt to get into that. If you go to your local garden store or many hardware stores, you'll find bulbs of different variety. Look at the pictures and decide which ones catch your eye.

Most hosta plants will thrive in shady places, but check the instructions as some may prefer a lot of sun. Mine always seemed to do well whether they had lots of sun or minimal sun or pretty much whatever. They just simply grew.

They would go dormant in the winter and usually once the spring came around they were the first plants I would see starting to emerge. They grow very large over time if you let them or you can easily split them and plant new ones. Once you begin doing this the only reason you might buy more is if you want a different type flower.

Yep. Hosta's do flower. They get large stems and really perk up the area. Check the pictures when you buy the bulbs and you'll be able to add a variety to your garden.

Because most of the hosta plants do well in shady areas, many people plant them around trees. They add a nice touch. If you choose to do so, just don't plant them too close to the tree roots.

One thing I need to point out is that the roots of hosta plants tend to become tangled. When you are planting the bulbs, whether new ones from the store or some you have split from a large plant, untangle the roots first and point them in the direction they are naturally pointing. Dig a large hole and plant them with the crown showing above ground. Fill the hole loosely with the dirt and don't pack it down.

The only thing I do when winter is approaching is to cut the dead leaves from the plant and I remove the flower stems.