Advice needed for planning a hosta bed
mybrownthumbz6
8 years ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agohostanista
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice on new hostas.
Comments (9)Yeah, I can appreciate too much of anything is not the best. My DH gardened up in MA for his whole life. He was used to things taking full sun there. He was not concerned either about not air conditioning his house, because the hot season lasted such a brief time. Now he is here in Alabama full time, and I cringe when I see him locating seedlings from his veggie garden in full sun. Like the artichokes he planted for me. He starts the seedlings and then I help him locate a good spot. Presently he is on a mission to remove camphor tree roots and old azalea roots from a long wide flower bed near the street. He had to stop because the soil was too wet down a foot or so, for him to use the SawzAll (reciprocating saw) to cut the huge roots.(It rained two days ago) But once that bed is clear, I am looking forward to adding hosta IN THE GROUND to that spot. Beneath the palm trees. Near the banana trees. He said it was a lot cooler at that end of the bed than the end near the street with day lilies, which tends to be drier as well as more exposed to the western sun. I suppose every small bit of land has microclimates that welcome a diverse group of plants....See MoreNeed Advice With New Hosta Bed
Comments (20)Garter Snakes, Indigo Snakes, Owls and Hawks might starve to death without voles. I don't understand why we don't build habitats for the above snakes instead of saying "eek, a snake". If I had them in my yard I would have no voles. the KKK River is up for the first time in a year. The other morning two young men (sigh) were carefully walking along the emergent weeds on the river bank. One suddenly grabbed and came up with a Water Moccosin by the tail. It was about 3 1/2 feet long. He held it for almost 5 minutes while his 'bud' took pictures with his phone. When he finally released it, unhurt, he left out his breath which I think he held for the full 5 minutes. What a adren rush he had, and I don't blame him. I once removed a copperhead from my Mom and Dad's yard and released it into the woods. I'd pinned it down and grabbed it behind it's triangular head. I am not a 'eek' gal! Toads in the garden are good (they love slugs) as are Guinea Hens, chickens and ducks which most urban laws don't allow. Snakes are GREAT in the garden because they prey on Voles, Ground Squirrels, Gophers, and even tree Squirrels, Ground Hogs and Rabbits avoid Indigo Snakes. They can get over 6 feet long but only pose a threat to humans if you try to grab them. who'd want to: they smell like putrid rubber. I know. I'd once rescued on that was caught in a plastic mesh. It wasn't my most pleasant 'rescue'. The snake was almost 8 feet long and 4" diameter, but the opening in the net was only 2". it would have died had I not released it. All that being said, I still don't know what the value of voles are other than fodder for other creatures great or small. Ken, with a thousand hostas, a dollar a basket is waaaaay above my budget! 'Eco' friendly Theresa Maybe this should be the subject of another thread....See MoreHostas in TX? Heuchera? Need advice about zone 9 from 4!
Comments (18)There is no hosta that would tolerate the sun in Texas for even two hours in the summer. That being said, I have just the common variety in my front flowerbed under teh porch overhang and they are fine. I hand pick a slug or two, but I've not had any serious problems. This might be because they are contained in a bed, and not near any leaf litter or anything, I don't know. If you want to bring some of your beloved hostas-the more hardy of them will likely be fine in the shade. Look online to see what they are rated as far as zone goes. If you use the moisture control beads in the pot, they may be easier to care for as potted plant specimens, if you don't mind fussing a bit. I don't fuss over mine a bit. I need to lift one or two that are dwindling because they've sunken too deep, but other than making sure I turn the soaker hose on for at least an hour once a week in the summer, I don't do anything for them save a bit of compost. They sell heuchera here..but you must almost create a microclimate for it. If you want to baby it, and don't mind failing just in case it happens, I don't see a problem with trying one or two in an appropriate spot to see what happens. We have a lot of pretty foliage plants, both annual and perennial down here. Some coleus are rated for sun, and those are beautiful. If you like grasses at all, those are good. What you will find in the nurseries here is that most of them stock a lot that while it may say Zone 9...it may not necessarily grow in this part of Zone 9. If you can, take a new friend that would know to the store with you, or at least look on davesgarden to see if it's reported as being grown here or near here in similar conditions (or you can just ask here....there are a ton of knowlegable people growing everything under the sun)....See MoreNeed planning advice for new part-shade garden in zone 6b
Comments (4)Well as tot the Japanese Maple you can keep them real small in the shade. I gave one that is 7 years old and barely three feet....See Morehostanista
8 years agoExample - a small part of a bed which was first planted in 2013. The El Nino (small blue one dead centre) will be moved this spring because others are taking over and we won't be able to see him. No biggie.
mybrownthumbz6
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
DelawareDonna Zone 7A
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoCan you provide a photo? What zone are you in?
Yes, I do consider form, color, and size. I have relocated quite a few hostas for best effect. Spacing is a prime consideration to me. Like Ken said, you would not want to move a large Sum and Substance. All hosta require some sun (morning is better). Some more sun tolerant then others. Here are two photos at the beginning and end of the season.
The hostas you mentioned should look well together with the addition of some variation.
brucebanyaihsta
8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agomybrownthumbz6
8 years ago
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