The 'Hosta Bug' bit me again & some questions!

14 years ago

So last year, after reading this forum, I ended up planting about 35 hostas. We were (are) on a tight budget, so I tended my garden and avoided reading this forum or looking at catalogs to keep the "bug" to buy more at bay.

Then, what happens? Spring comes along, and my hostas emerge - beautiful!

Now, I lost about 7, I think, including Paul's Glory, Sagae, & Piedmont Gold. I "need" to replace these, right? I've already purchased Stained Glass, Dream Weaver, Inniswood, Paradigm, and Striptease. And, of course, by reading this forum again, I've already started a huge wish list.

So, when do the sales begin?

Also, I'm not sure of all the ones I lost because I just stuck the plastic plant tag in the ground beside the hosta. Many are broken or lost. I'd like to get some EON markers. Any recs on the size I need? I have 2 toddlers and neighborhood dogs who don't mind walking through my garden so I don't know how high they need to be.

The labels are just for my benefit.

I'm sorry I missed the sale a while back on the PTouch label maker. I'll "need" one of those, too. Will the pen/markers EON sells work for the summer until I can budget for a label maker?

Oh, by the way, the ones that are really pretty include Patriot, Guacamole, Fragrant Bouquet, Francee, and Fried Bananas. I can't wait until they really flourish. I'll try to post pictures in a few days. We've got rain/thundershowers for the next few days - good for my babies!

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Comments (4)

weed30 St. Louis
14 years ago
Whatever marker you decide on, you STILL need to do a garden diagram. Trust me. No matter what marker you use, it will fade, get lost, get moved, get chewed up, get licked, get stolen, or simply disappear into the Hosta Marker Parallel Universe. Your diagram does not have to be fancy, just a simple sketch with the general location of your hosta with their names.

P.S. You definitely need to replace Sagae. One of the top 5 hosta in existence, IMO!
woodthrush
14 years ago
Weed
I took photo's of the beds, printed them in just black and white and took them outside and wrote the names on the photo's. I use the eon markers too, but they do get heaved out of the ground sometimes by freeze/thaws, raked out with the leaves, or that Hosta Marker Parallel U you mentioned (is that WHERE they go??), so the photo helps.
Pam
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hostasformez4
14 years ago
I have reverted to using the slats from old V. blinds. I cut them in thirds and then bend each piece in half and hold the sides together cut the two ends spade shape so they go into the ground. I write the name of the hosta on both inside spots as well as outside on one side and place it in the back of the clump into the ground so only about 4 inches is out of the ground. They aren't as easy to rake out as they are halfway in the ground and will bend when you rake. I have had them in 3 years and so far so good. I only put them on new ones and ones I am not a familiar with.

They look like little graveyards in the winter but it is so much cheaper than all the metal ones I have used in the past as they eventually rust off or disappear. Save your money by using them and you can buy more hostas!!!! LOL

Connie
glosgarden
14 years ago
Hello Cindy, I see you are in middle TN....I am in NW Mississippi, about a mile below Memphis but am in the Mid-South Hosta Society based in Memphis. Since TN is so wide you could be far far away but in case you are close enough our society will be having our annual sale next Sat. May 9th in Cordova which is just east of Memphis..... We will have over 1000 hostas with more than 140 varieties....and lots of hosta folks there who can answer questions. There is also a free garden tour at the home of the member who is hosting the sale this year. This is our 11th year and it's always a great day. Four years ago the sale/tour was at my garden and we had a lady drive from Birmingham!
Also...I am the "Ways and Means" person for our club and we order the 10" rose markers from EON. That's what most of our folks like although EON and others sources have lot of different ones. We order at wholesale prices so we can offer them at a very good price to members. I'm sure other societies could do the same.
Sounds like you have a great start on your road to hostaholicism (probably not a word but that's what it is!)Just be warned....there is no cure...and it gets worse every year
Why don't you email me if you would like more info on the sale.
It's pouring down rain here right now too and I can almost see the plants growing by the hour.
Gloria

The 'Hosta Bug' bit me again & some questions!

Comments (4)

weed30 St. Louis

woodthrush

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