Sandy, sorry for your loss. I will encourage you to go and dig up a large piece of some of those hostas while you can.

About the voles, they are not just rodents, they are intrepid hosta eaters. Do not feel bad for them.

Beverly

If you still have some roots, grab 'em and see what you can salvage. Wow, I'd be furious as well. Hope you can save as many as possible. I love animals too, but you gotta protect what you want to keep. They won't be going on the endangered species list anytime soon. Do what you have to do, I sympathize with you. I'm lucky in that I have a beast of a cat that loves to kill voles and rabbits. When he eventually retires to the Great Garden in the Sky, I'll probably have to initiate what you're getting ready to do. I'm really sorry to hear about all the bad news.

Regards,
Don B.
Westminster, CO.

so sorry to hear about your loss. seems I have lost several to voles again this year . we must continue to fight the battle for our beautiful hosta . best of luck in saving what you can .

Sandy,

I am so sorry for your loss of your Grandma and now your Hostas. As for what you have left, you need a piece of the crown attached to a root or preferably roots in order for the Hosta to grow. Populations of voles like many varmints will surge or wane due to factors like predator presence or snow cover or winter temperatures. That's how you can go from no damage to major damage. Always check for damage during the winter months and set traps when you see any evidence.

Will you go about replacing your plants in addition to saving those you can?

Steve

Steve, if you have a decent piece of root, is there any chance you can bring any crown growth by hitting it with something like a Bontone Rooting Powder or anything potent like that? Or is it just not going to happen?

Worth Asking, I Guess...
Don B.

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Tue, Apr 16, 13 at 22:27

Sorry for both your losses.

I would advise against poisoning the voles as you end up doing serious damage to their predators likes hawks and such. Traps are much better.

If you're near SE Wisconsin shoot me an email. I can dig some eyes for you.

tj

Good advice, TJ. Don't want to hurt our vole-hunting allies.

Don B.

I am SO sorry for your losses, both people and hostas.

But stuff happens, especially when dealing with Mother Nature, and you mustn't throw in the towel. Do what you can to save what is left, and go from there. We'll all be here to cheer you on.

-Babka

Sandy, I am distressed for your loss. Not just garden plants, but what I call memory plants. A lot of family memories triggered by walking among those particular hosta.

It can work that getting specific ones to replace those lost will link the new ones to the same memories. It worked for me when the Don Juan rose that my son gave me before he died was killed by fire ants one summer. I had to replace it, and the new one still reminds me of my son.

Sandy, I understand that you are devastated about what has happened to your hostas. I know I would be too. The emotional tie you had with the hostas you lost and your grandparents makes the loss even more difficult. I am sorry that that happened to you. And I am sorry for the loss of your dear grandmother.

Now some people will agree with this and others will not---but you have heard the saying that things happen for a reason? If we go with that thought, then perhaps a trip to Iowa to replace your hostas would be just the thing that would bring back some memories and be a source of healing for you. Even though your grandfather has dementia now, you could be a great source of comfort to him now. (My dad had dementia in the last couple of years of his life, but his love for me still shone through.)

Nevertheless, whatever you decide to do, I know you will find the right path for you. Good luck.

Sandy,

So sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother...and your hostas. I can tell that you love to garden and grow hostas as much as I do, and it was a huge disappointment for you to see all your babies eaten by voles. But most of your hostas can be replaced and you will be able to enjoy them again, so don't lose heart.

By the way, where in Michigan do you live? I'm wondering how close you are to me...

Don

Sandy, I agree with Newhostalady. You don't say what kind of dementia your grandfather has, but my dad had dementia and always knew everyone and remembered the old times, just not recent events and people. A trip might be a really healing experience plus an opportunity to replace your hosta.

bk

Oh Sandy I feel so bad for you and hopefully remember the great pictures, the great gramma and grampa and the love and joy they bring you in memories. As for the voles, mice what ever they are called they were put on this earth to be used for food for other animals and not to be pets lol ...stinky little pests. They can do as much damage or more then slugs as they eat roots and all on many plants. A cat( not like my slug) or poison in a old jar with a hole punched in a lid could get them under control. I may have lost a few this year but you seem to have had such a terrible loss.
Again so sorry ..hugs
Faye

Sandy, thats awful, I am so sorry.

I think moccasin is right though. The link is still there. When you get a new plant to replace the ones you've lost, it will still remind you of your grandfather. It is still "just like the ones my grandfather used to grow."

I know it is a huge setback for you, but nothing will change your memories. Not even those nasty voles!!

I just wanted to say a big "thank you" to everybody who responded. I have read and re-read each and every post and taken into consideration everything everybody had to say. What a bunch of GREAT people we have here!

I went out again today to try and assess the damage further. I do have some survivors, and definite losses, as well as "maybe" pots. I say "maybe" because there is only a tiny bit of crown left, maybe the size of a dime, in some of the containers, and I do not see any roots left on those. So I do not know if they will come through or not, but I am giving them a chance. Some of the containers were completely empty with only a smidgen of soil left. I will come back in several weeks and post my final numbers just so anybody who's interested will know.

My Grandpa's dementia is getting bad, and he does not live in his home anymore because my family does not think he can be safe living on his own. So long story short, he moved in with my Uncle and his wife, and his rural farm home, which he lived in for 70 years with Grandma, sits empty.

My husband and I were born and raised in Iowa, and all of our family live there still. We make the trip twice a year to visit. So in July when we go, I will look forward to my Grandpa and I going to his old home and digging small "starts" of each of the hostas so I can begin again. It only takes a small piece.....I do have the patience for them to grow large like I did before. It will give us time together. He still remembers me, but has to be reminded daily multiple times that Grandma passed. His short term memory is the worst.

I also believe that everything happens for a reason, as was mentioned by some kind soul here. And they are only plants afterall. It's just that they have very special meaning to me. I'm trying to keep the right perspective.

As a side note, after inspecting my perennial flower bed, it looks like my potted hostas were not the only casualties this winter. Those little critters did a number on some of my other plants. GRRRR! This is war! :)

Once again, thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement. I will post back soon and let you all know how many of my babies made it.

Oh, and by the way, I live in Shelby Township, MI. If any of you know of any plant swaps coming up, I'd love to get that info. Maybe I can find a few replacements for what I've lost over the winter. I've never been to one, but I hear they are a good way to get a lot of nice plants quickly. I do have some perennials that need to be divided, so I could trade.

Good evening,

Sandy

You have my sympathy on all the horrible things that have come your way. If your grandpa isn't living at home any more, maybe those hostas just need a new home. Now you have room for them.

I don't know if it works with voles, but we have a terrible time with mice getting in and chewing things in the garage - things like the car wiring. The repair guy told us to put mothballs around, that they will help repel mice. It's worth a try, mothballs are cheap. I think it's illegal to put them on the ground, but they could certainly go in pots and under a tarp.

Good for you, PondLuvr. You are a survivor. Remember that the hosta of an earlier America was known as the Friendship plant.
I'm no where near Michigan but I wish you the best.

Please do come back with an update so we can know the rest of the story. Lots of folks here love happy endings. Which is what I'm sure your story will have.

Hi Sandy,

You may want to contact the Metro Detroit Hosta Society. They probably have plant swaps, sales and auctions. And you will meet a lot of local individuals that you can form friendships with and tour their gardens.

Send me an email if you want their contact information.

Sorry Sandy.

Trying to poison or trap voles is an exercise in futility. They will simply come back. The best you can do is keep them away. Here is something from NH Hostas that they use.

"The Recipe For Organic Vole & Mouse Control

Large Area Applications Using A Hose-End Sprayer

1 - 2 Oz Castor Oil
1 - 2 Oz Dish Detergent

Vole and Mice Damage to lawn

Add the mixture to the jar of the hose end sprayer. Then fill the jar with water. Attach to your hose and thoroughly water every location that you want to deter the pests from. If your hose-end sprayer has a dial, set it to the highest setting.

Small Area Application Using A Watering Can

1 teaspoon Castor Oil
1 teaspoon Dish Detergent

Add this mixture to 1 gallon of water and thoroughly water the area to be protected.

How To Apply The Organic Vole Control
You want to water the ground, not spray it. You should thoroughly wet the soil so that the mixture penetrates a few inches into the soil. It is hard to say how much lawn and garden area the solution will cover. You just want to make sure you get the mixture into the soil.

You Do Not Have To Re-Apply After A Rain
You may want to re-apply in spring if you have damage during the growing season. Some people do and some don't. Mostly vole and mole damage is just a winter issue as the pests are desperate for a food source.

When To Apply The Organic Vole Control
You want to apply the mixture before the ground freezes and after you have cleaned away all the leaves from your garden. This is typically after a few frost's."

Some say the smell repels them; others say it gives them a bad case of diarrhea (sorry) in their tunnels which drives them to your neighbor's yard and keeps them and others away.

Hosta are tough and you should plant whatever remnants you have. You will not get back all your loss of plants, but you will always remember grandpa and always have something to remind you of him. Filling it in with other hosta wouldn't have the same meaning as those that came from him. The number in the collection doesn't matter; its the number of memories that count, cherish them. Voles can't take them away.

Jon

Sandy, Very sorry about you grandfather and the problem with voles. I started noticing holes in the ground out in the woods in the fall of 2011 . I wasna't sure if it was voles but turns out it was. I filled all the holes as I found them with sandy, rocky soil. I still had a cat that hunted at that time. In the spring I checked the plants in the woods and they all seemed fine. When Silk Komono didn't come up I dug it up. I was shocked at what I found. For one thing it was located quite far from the wooded area with the holes. It was near a wall which bordered our cement driveway and paved courtyard. I planted all the bits in one pot and at the end of the year put those into a new planting area on the opposite side of the driveway. They did grow and I'll be anxious to see what they look like this year. The pictures are meant to encourage you.

Meanwhile....this year looks like a disaster vole wise. Creating new planting spots in the fall turned out to be a big mistake. I guess it's the fluffy soil. Quite a few of my plants were dug up or had chewed up roots and/or tops. One favorite was Frozen Margarita which had a dozen eyes last year and this year has one. I now see vole holes all along the top part of this embankment.

I am on the verge of trying Faye's husbands solution. Put a hose on your tailpipe and put the other end into one of the vole holes. Aparently it will eliminate all of them in one shot. I am having qualms but still what's the difference in hoping you cat kills them or you poision them? Anyone tried this? Myrle

Myrle,

Fumigation like putting the exhaust pipe into the hole in the ground won't work. The tunnels are so complex and shallow that fumigants escape before they can do any damage. You could try the Castor Oil as Jon describes above, but the best solutions are barriers. Some peeps add gravel to the planting hole to discourage voles. The Connecticut people who have a nasty vole problem use wire baskets and hardware wire circles in order to stop them from eating the crowns.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Utah Extension - How do I get rid of voles

I had vole problems last year when I planted hostas in spots where I carefully dug out all the rocks and put in good topsoil. But they never bother the ones where I just dug a hole and put the plants in, and just chucked the rocks and soil back, The hostas do fine in the rocky soil but the voles don't seem to like to dig in it.

And this year the hawks and owls are back so hopefully the problem with voles will lessen.

However, I think I will try the castor oil treatment. Wonder if I mixed some castor oil solution in the soil with new plants, if that would discourage them from the beginning?

My worst problem this spring so far , again, is the pillbugs that go after tender new shoots, eating the new eyes to the ground as they unfurl. They don't seem to bother the big tough eyes but they sure like the minis and smalls. I did find that the collars I put on for cutworm control seem to work as a barrier for the pillbugs too, so I am going to do that for all the young hostas. I also mixed diatomaceous earth with cornmeal and put rings around all of them, but of course it rained so now I have to do it again. They say the cornmeal clogs up their digestive system and they die, and of course the diatomaceous earth kills them, so I thought mixing the two might work even better!

Sandy