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Heavily Damaged Hosta

11 years ago

So, I have this hosta that is heavily damaged, as you can easily see in the picture. First, I am wondering if there is any hope for this plants survival? Will it send out more leaves this year, next year, or ever? Also, would it be possible to move and replant the hosta this year or in the future? Basically I have no idea how to care for this plant, but want to be sure it survives. Also, if it can survive I want to move it so it can avoid being damaged again (it had something to do with the garbage truck, I don't fully understand how it happened myself). Anyway, all comments, suggestions, and tips would be very helpful!

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (8)

Steve Massachusetts
11 years ago
It looks like it's planted in the middle of the road with all those rocks around. Lucky for you Hostas grow on the driveway. Yes it will live. It might come back with smaller leaves next year, but in the long run it will be fine. If it's going to continually get damaged you probably should move it now and just water the heck out of it. Otherwise wait until the Spring when the pips first come up then dig it up and move it out of the way of the garbage truck.

Steve
Cindy
11 years ago
I am 99.9% sure it will bounce back. Just make sure it gets water but don't over water. I have had worse damage and it spouted new wings.
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dig a hole.. and find out.. if your sprinklers are set to run long enough to actually get water 2 to 4 inches DEEP into the root zone... other than that.. its white centered... subject to melt out.. especially in drought/heat and its september ... and the dark mulch reflects and retains heat ... toasting it from below ... but the bottom line remains... it did NOT get enough water .. when you think about it.. the odds of every single type of plants being perfectly watered by a non-specific watering system.. its surprising more things dont have more problems ...... hosta need long DEEP drinks... to thrive.. yours is not getting that.. no matter how your system is doing what it does ... ... and.. as a result.. its going dormant early ... ken
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Thanks Ken, everyone is very encouraging. I think you are right about the difference in the sun. Thanks, Steve. I will definitely be back to let you know if the product is working. The rabbits seem to be doing less noticeable damage right now. They've already eaten a lot of my lilies and have slowed up on eating the Hostas. There are people in the neighborhood that have vegetable gardens, so maybe they are there driving them crazy. I wanted to try it this year to make sure I could depend on it for next year, so. I'm going to lay some down around the areas they have already done damage. My front bed, they are still feasting on Dill seedlings too. As for the variety, I do keep records, but I've been slacking off recently. And I didn't buy this from a retail nursery, I bought it at a local plant sale, so I have no receipt with the listing of what I bought. It might have had a tag, but it's long gone. [g]
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Babka NorCal 9b
11 years ago
Where are the leaves? I just see stems mostly. Can you cover it with a mesh basket or hardware cloth? Methinks something has been munching on it. Something warm blooded.

-Babka
Matter921
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for all the prompt responses! The problem is that there are no leaves. All were ripped or teared off. Rabbits may be a possibility, except none of my other hostas have any damage and haven't in past years either. Unless the rabbits are specifically choosing to target one plant, which seems unlikely, I feel they are not the cause. Because the general consensus is that it will survive, when would it be safe and best to transplant?

And once again, thanks for all the help!
Cricket_Love
11 years ago
It will come back. You should transplant it now if it is in danger of being destroyed. My 2 cents, it looks like deer or rabbit had a good midnight snack. Otherwise, what's left of the petioles would also be crushed I would think. Transplant and water, water, water!
ci_lantro
11 years ago
Unless the rabbits are specifically choosing to target one plant, which seems unlikely, I feel they are not the cause.

No, not unlikely at all. In my experience, rabbits love lancifolia & will gnaw it down to the ground and will pretty much leave my other hosta alone. They'll also eat albomarginata but it's a second favorite.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
(it had something to do with the garbage truck

-->>> steve stole my joke..

my first thought was deer ...

the little rabbit damage i have.. with my ADD rabbits.. would not do that thorough a job ...

it mid july..

it will reflush...

there stalks are still long enough to produce chlorophyll ... and its a plain green hosta.. and it root growing/energy storing time ...

heck.. it might not even be stunted next year..

that will NOT kill that hosta ... i will leap the other 0.1% cindy left out ...

the one question not asked.. was it a fragrant hosta???

ken
Steve Massachusetts
11 years ago
If that is, in fact, Lancifolia, it will be back in full flush beginning next week given a little water.

Steve

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