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Hostas Wilting after frost

15 years ago

I planted some hostas around the last week of February, they were very happy in there new home- a shady spot under a tree (though several feet away from the trunk). Night temperatures got pretty low. I covered them from the snow but the ground around them still froze. (In march! what the heck?!) The bigger one has a few wilted leaves but the smaller one is turning more yellowish and is wilting too. Is there anything I can do? I know is was a silly move planting them so early but I just moved in and the garden needed help! :(

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Comments (6)

Babka NorCal 9b
15 years ago
About all you can do for now is wait and see what happens, I know that is very hard to do. They will either die or send up new replacement leaves. I suppose it depends on how much of the plant is left. You didn't say if these were small and new, or old clumps moved from somewhere else. If these had beaucoup roots you will probably see some new leaves. So, hope for the best...

-Babka
katymaria
Original Author
15 years ago
No, they are small and new.
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They'll probably be fine, they have the ability to put out another set of leaves. With that said, if it's going to get down that low again, bring them inside. This year will be tough on a lot of trees, as 1.) We had a record warm March, so everything is further along than it should be right now, and 2.) They are forecasting record lows for many areas this coming Saturday. I know some of my Japanese Maples' leaves are wilted and black because of a few cold nights already. I plan on covering them with a frost blanket this weekend to try and prevent any additional damage. We'll see if it helps.
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hosta_freak
15 years ago
Katy,I can tell you from experience,that they will probably survive,though may be stunted for awhile. If they do survive which they should,they will come back next year,good as new. I've done the same thing as you many times,and they always survived. Hostas are tough! Phil
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
ignore them for a few weeks ....

dont go poking around...

either of two things will happen ..

unaffected leaves from the center of the stalk will sprout ....

or the whole thing will die down.. but given time.. dormant buds will sprout ...

either way .. in my experience.. ANYTHING YOU DO ... will be negative ..

once it figures out what it wants to do ... we can go clean up the ugly stuff ...

next time pot them.. and hold them a little later.. but you probably figured that out already ...

ken
katymaria
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh thanks so much, that makes me feel better!
Camille korb
11 days ago
Did they end up coming back

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