Here's my rule. Any plant that I receive from a questionable source (i.e. Local Nursery, Big Box store, gift plant or exchange) stays in it's pot away from others for a year or until I'm sure it's healthy. I test hostas that I'm unsure of and/or wait to see if nems show up in late summer.

This stuff can be managed, but you have to be vigilant. I'm sure that 7 years ago we knew a lot less about HVX and nems than we do now.

My recommendation is to test the Hosta's that you are worried about for HVX. Rid yourself of diseased plants and then don't sweat the nems. Just pull off the leaves if you don't like them. If you know a plant has nems don't give it any overhead water.

If you want maintenance free put down astroturf. If you want things that grow then you have to deal with the vagaries of Mother Nature.

Steve

I live in zone 5a, and the beginning of August I should spray the hostas with systemic Bayer Advanced Complete Insect Killer. I was a little late with it this year, but spraying that insecticide arrested nems in leaves.

Quicksilver, I agree, my problems have been slugs, maple tree roots, crown rot, shot-gun fungus, rabbits, shrews, moles, squirels, chipmunks, and a groundhog. Add one with HVX and one with nematodes. While digging in our gardens this year, we found shot gun shells and and tons of barbed wire too. I imagine all of this has been going on in our back yard for years, I just finally noticed.

Now I'm busy repairing Christmas lights, and have to worry about the wind and and then the snow. Last year we expanded to all the lights being controlled by a computer and music transmitted to a FM radio station. More, cables, power, etc... this list goes on.

I work like a mad woman from January through April, so I can put myself through the tortue of both of my hobbies the rest of the year. I love it!

Gesila

I realize that my post at the top of this page is a depressed rant. Steve- when I started my hosta garden, no one would take your view. In retrospect your advice is great. I grow roses, vegetables, perennial flowers, hostas, cannas and dahlias. The reference to AstroTurf is not appreciated. Berndyz5- the only method I am aware of to remove foliar nematodes is to place the hosta root system in 120-125 degree water in the late winter. Gesila-you put all in proper perspective. I am depressed with the state of my garden, yet you made me laugh.

HVX seems to be the mad cow disease of Hostas.
And the bird flu of the hosta kingdom.
These days it seems there is something to mess up all the easy things we enjoy doing. But when you drill down and become obsessed with a subject such as hosta growing, you uncover all the nuances of doing it better than average, of raising it to an art form. So, Quicksilver, you are reaching a newer and higher plateau in your pursuit of a perfect garden. You've come to the right place for aid in continuing that objective.

Quicksilver, if you grow Canna, you must also be aware of Canna virus. Canna was another plant that was "carefree" for many years and now this. Clematis virus is also fairly new. Seems like viruses are turning up in more and more plants.

I have noticed with other perennials that new hybrids many times are inferior to the plants they were made from. My old type hostas never had a virus, rarely show fungus attacks, they also last the longest in fall, are the hardiest and grow the fastest. Perhaps as plants are more and faster hybridized they fall to viruses more easier.
Bernd