Hosta Planting

16 years ago

Hi everyone...my name is Deanna and I'm very new to planting and gardening. My neighbor has some lovely hostas planted throughout is yard and is currently planting more in his backyard. He's offered to give us a couple for our yard. My big problem is that I have 4 dogs and I know that the hosta is poisonous. While 3 of the 4 don't eat anything they shouldn't the 4th is a young Australian Shepherd who eats anything and everything and digs. Can hostas be planted in a flower pot and grown indoors? If so, I could keep them up high and away from the dogs. Thanks for all your help! I certainly appreciate it.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
hi... welcome...

been growing hosta for 20 years...

NEVER heard they were poisonous ...

can you site any research regarding such .... or is this just a rumor..

ken
bunnycat
16 years ago
How about buying some folding 3' tall metal fence? It comes in dark green or white. The green isn't very noticeable at all. I think each package of fence spreads to about 8' long. You would need to buy several, depending on what size the garden is. Usually works fine, unless they see a squirrel they just have to have.....
Most dogs can be trained to respect boundaries, as long as they understand where they are.
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first pic.. i would make a rake of my fingers.. and lightly scratch the soil.. and see if i could find the crown ... and find out if its where its supposed to be ... second and third pix .. too straight down pix.. to see the side.. and how it looks .. or to see the leaf stalks ... also.. a pic or two in a month or so.. might let us see .. ken
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shade_tolerant
16 years ago
Hi Deanna, welcome to the hosta forum. Hostas are not poisonous. Some people actually eat them, there are even recipes, believe it or not! I have three dogs and can attest to the fact that they are just fine after biting off a piece or two. I on the other hand am not fine with them eating any of my hostas! So plant your new hostas outside in your garden and enjoy them. If your dogs won't stay away from munching on your plants there are non-toxic sprays you can use to make the hostas less appetizing to them.
silly_me
16 years ago
definitely not poisonous

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Eat Hosta
hostanana
16 years ago
Welcome to the world of hosta- the non-poisonous perennial, or I would have lost Olivia the cat three years ago. She's partial to the yellows that arrive too early to go outside.
Consider joining the NE Hosta Society- you'll learn a lot and meet some wonderful gardeners,AND get to see lots of grown-up hostas.
Enjoy your neighbor's generosity, and label, label, label!
indyrose
16 years ago
I don't have problems with my dogs eating hostas, but they sure like to lie down in my hosta beds! Shady, moist, mulched ground makes a nice place for a pup to get away from the summer heat!

I've had to put large fist-sized rocks under my hostas to discourage the dogs from laying down there.

Indyrose

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Hosta Planting

Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

bunnycat

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shade_tolerant

silly_me

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