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Had to cut back a couple already

14 years ago

A couple of days ago I was out checking the garden and noticed several hostas were ready to cut back. They were all yellowed, so I clipped them down already. There's still a couple that are green so I'll have to wait on those. I had to cut back Jewel of the Nile, Lakeside Cha Cha, Gold Drops, Diamond Tiara, Rainforest Sunrise, Captain Kirk and one Fragrant Blue. One Fragrant Blue is still green, my blue dimples, and my Blue Ivory.

How many of you have had to cut back already?

All my other perennials seem to be still very green and have a while to go yet. I may just wait for most till spring.

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i dont cut them back....

they provide their own little mulch cover.. who am i to remove it

only if i had a severe slug problem... would i go to that effort ... and then spray

ken
Cher
14 years ago
I cut them back yesterday with everything else this week. The only things I have left are my Mums for another month. Although I still have a few shrubs blooming but think I am seeing the last of that also this week.
CH
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hosta_freak
14 years ago
You're wasting a lot of time and energy! Hostas don't need to be cut back. Just let them go dormant,and the leaves will dry up,and you can pull them off next spring,if you want. They make mulch,as Ken said,and also compost to feed the soil. Just MHO Phil
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i suppose they clean their houses too ... lol

ken
kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
A couple of them did have a bad slug problem, and in this area we have a great problem with slugs. So, that's why I chose this root. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have.
in ny zone5
14 years ago
I will pull the leaves off when they are dry.
There were threads here about Hosta Virus. It was said there that by cutting all leaves of many hostas with the same tool you will spread the virus to other plants which would create a lot of work and expense. Perhaps you could spread nematodes also this way. It was suggested to stick the pruners in some solution and use separate pruners.

But pulling dry leaves off and putting them into the garbage, not compost, will remove any disease matter in leaves.
kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
I did spray the pruners with Lysol spray between each plant. I don't know if that was enough. Perhaps you are right in that waiting till spring and just pulling them off then would keep the disease from spreading. I've never had a hosta with the disease yet that I know about. I never thought about the disease :O.
I did purchase them at a reputable place though, Made in the Shade Gardens whom certify them to be HVX free at time of sale.
My Rainforest Sunrises and Fragrant Blues have been in my garden for a couple of years and I haven't seen any signs of it though. I got those at Bloomin' Designs nursery.
kentstar
Original Author
14 years ago
I did email Mike at Bloomin' Designs about their HVX policy and he assures me that "they only buy from sources that test and guaranteed 100% disease-free tissue cultures.We do guarantee disease-free and true to variety." Mike Butler Bloomin'Designs Nursery

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