1. What are you planting? The daily sun reqs should be on the package. Also - where are you located? 2. Broadleaf herbicide (such as 2-4-D / Weed-b-gone) has a longer "residual" effect than a non-selective herbicide like Round-Up (RU), aka glysophate. With 2-4-D, I think it's about 2 weeks before you can seed. With RU, it may be less than a week. If you're grading your yard, I'm assuming it's already just dirt? I'd go with the RU to kill whatever's sprouting. 3. Starter fertilizer is usually applied at the time of seeding, to avoid having to walk all over the seedlings to apply it later. Some people have done it at half dosage, and then a few weeks later applied the other 1/2. Not sure how they did it w/o walking on the seedlings, though. 4. I would spread the compost after seeding, to help cover the seeds.

Hi Jenn - I know this is old but I'm taking a chance that maybe you're still around! If you do check in, just wondering what you've learned over the last few years. Our backyard is in the exact same orientation, and we have the same conditions -- only 4-5 hours of sun, but it's afternoon sun in the summer growing season. And then very little direct sun in the winter. I suppose I could just take a chance and plant, right...??? ;)

well ... hmmmm .... you are on the right track ... but working on the wrong variables ... i am going to come at it from another angle ... hosta are VERY HEAVY WATER USERS ... and they use the most water.. in the most heat .. which is why they struggle in the deep south ... they simply cant pump enough water to offset the loss ... and part of that is ... night temps.. they can cope better up here in MI because at night it cools considerably ... hosta actually sweat ... transpire ... in england.. which is above the 60th parallel.. or 2/3 of the way to the north pole.. they are ALL FULL SUN ... partly because the sun barely shines.. lol .. but also because of the declination of the sun.. the British are a pasty peeps.. because the sun is not as strong.. so the hosta can cope ... compare that to LA.. and you can see a stark difference. .. so.. hosta can grow in full sun .. hosta are only shade tolerant.. but the sun .. or conversely.. the shade is not really the issue.... its all about how effectively they can pump.. enough water. and if they have a recovery period to cope ... the fact that a hosta looks ratty in late summer.. is more a function of not enough water.. rather than too much light ... ken ps: zone.. which is.. in its simplest form.. MINIMUM WINTER TEMP ... has nothing to do with it .... pps: i have tons of wood hyacinths.. i dont know why you failed with those.. unless there are multiple plants under that common name ... ppps: hosta also have a requisite dormancy period.. and if you go too far south.. they dont get it ...

The should be OK and should appreciate partial sun at this point. The only time I keep them mostly in shade is when they are very young seedlings or maybe for a short while after raising the caudex on a more mature plant.