Pruning Hostas in Spring after hail
So here in the great state of Oklahoma, our weathermen tell us hail is coming a lot in spring but we are usually lucky and it either misses us or it doesn't happen. Last night our luck ran out and most of my hostas got severely damaged. It's just sickening. We have had a rainy spring and they looked so healthy. I took the time to sprinkle crushed egg shells around the base so the slugs wouldn't eat them. I usually cover them but they were getting so big and the tubs i use didn't cover them anymore. I wish i could tell them to get back in the ground when they start popping up at the end of March but that's like talking to a man LOL, I kid, i kid. My question is, if i prune the leaves that are the most damaged, will they grow back or will it damage the whole plant. our summers are brutally hot and usually dry.
Thanks!
Leslie
Comments (11)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years agobkay2000
11 years agoLeslie, I'm in Dallas. I got that in 2011. We had 2 hail storms back to back. Cutting them back will work, as they will put out new leaves. However, it will weaken the plant somewhat. In three years, you probably can't tell the difference, but next year, they will be smaller than they would have been if you had not forced them to make new leaves.
I've found the best defense against hail is window screening (the plastic kind). I had bought one of those curtain kind of screen doors that didn't work, but it did a great job of protecting my hosta last year. Sheets also help, but not as much as the screening material. It minimizes the momentum of the hail stones - the screen better than the sheets.
I won the distinct honor of having the ugliest hosta in 2011. It's my Sum and Substance. I didn't trim mine that year, I just lived with ugly hosta. Of course, I had to have some new ones to cheer me up (any excuse will do).
bk
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What do I do after hail damage?
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11 years agolesliec76
11 years ago
thisismelissa
11 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
Jon 6a SE MA
11 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years agoJon 6a SE MA
11 years agohostafreak
11 years ago
lesliec76Original Author