i respectfully disagree ... there is no analogy between tree PRUNING ... and hosta care .. you do NOT ... PRUNE ... a hosta ... words mean things ... hosta have two flushes.. spring.. and late summer.. you can NOT alter their genetics.. and FORCE them to generate more leaves .. without detriment to the plant ... and they will not generate new branches either ... jon also said: Otherwise the plant is spending a lot of energy on keeping damaged leaves on life support and i once said that.. many moon ago .. and was pshawed wildly ... the hosta is NOT trying to heal a mature harmed leaf ... like a tree might try to 'heal' a wound ... they just dont work that way ... think of a leaf more as a energy processing plant ... it is not a skin.. that needs to heal ... any green is a net plus.. even just a celery stalk petiole ... i am impressed jon is 'thinking' .. dont get me wrong... all the power to him ... it adds to the conversation .... i do not intend to shout him down.. in any manner ... plus.. it cracks me up.. that i used to think the same thing.. 20 odd years ago ... its all part of the learning curve .... ken

Here's my article titled SPRING HOSTA TIPS: Spring Hosta Tips The snow is melting and Spring is on the way. Youve been anxiously waiting for the chance to walk through your gardens and dream about the new plants youÂve ordered from your favorite mail order catalogs. And, you canÂt wait to put your gloves on and get your gardens cleaned up. Hold on. Tip #1: DonÂt remove that winter mulch until the last frost is gone. Early arrivals, like montana ÂAureomarginata may require additional protection from that late season cold and wind. When all danger of frost is past, then go for it. Get your rake and wheelbarrow. Tip #2: Thoroughly clean your gardens. All debris should be raked and added to the compost bin to eliminate a breeding ground for slugs. Be careful not to rake or step on the eyes that are just popping up to avoid damaging the leaves which are about to unfold. Are your plants in good shape? Tip #3: Look to see if the frost has heaved your plants out of the ground- especially young hostas which were planted last year. As the ground freezes and thaws, freezes and thaws, and freezes and thaws (get the idea?), those plants may need to be tucked in on several occasions. Can your friends easily read those plant labels? Or has the name tag completely disappeared? Tip #4: Make sure all plants, including new arrivals, are accurately labeled and the tags are in good condition. Remember that large hostas will cover up name tags that are too close to the mound. Perhaps you have trees and shrubs which need to be pruned. Tip #5: Spring is the best time to prune most trees, and shrubs after flowering. Those branches which are dead, or make it too shady, should be cut off cleanly, chipped up, and added to the compost bin or reserved for a woodchip path. That pile of leaves, garden waste, and grass clippings from last Fall should be flipped over now. Tip #6: Turn over your compost pile. You may want to add a little sand. The warm, rainy weather will turn all that stuff into black gold. Then when those hot summer days reach 70 or 80 degrees, apply that free mulch around the base of your plants. How is your supply of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides? Tip #7: Take an inventory of your gardening supplies- tools, gloves, hoses, sprinklers, wheelbarrows, fencing, tomato cages, etc. Shop and replace worn out items now so that youÂre not stuck in the middle of a job. Spring is a great time to divide and transplant your hostas. Did you promise to give a hosta to a friend, or donate a plant for the hosta auction? You can create interest and educate others about gardening, and eventually turn your neighborhood into a hostaholic community. Tip #8: Spring is the best time to dig in your hosta bed. Review your garden records from last Fall to see which ones need your attention. How wonderful to see those long awaited hostas shoot up, bigger and stronger than the year before! Tip #9: DonÂt neglect to apply a slow release fertilizer. But donÂt over fertilize, and keep those granules off the newly emerging leaves, or crown, of the plants. Above all, enjoy the fresh Spring breeze, the chirp of the robins, and the signs of life as they appear, knowing that old man Winter is giving way to a new season of hosta gardening and fun everywhere!

CozyFarmhouse-- That's exactly what I have decided to do. I found a store online that carries fitted sheets from 6" depth on up. So that seems the best option that I've found. The store is Cozytown Linens. Has anyone here used them?

plant to the point where the stem is white.. that is where it was planted before ... err toward high ... those are tiny .... do you have a spot.. right up against the house... as a temp bed for this fall ....??? .. like within a foot of the foundation??? NEVER FERT A HOSTA IN FALL .... late next spring would be ok ... but you need years.. not fert.. to get them big ... what bruce said on mulch ... we arent mulching to extend the season ... we are piling it on.... NEAR GROUND FREEZE ... so they dont pop out of the ground... in late winter.. early spring ... leaves from the lawn.. have to be cut pretty small.. so they dont suffocate the plants .. i used to suck them up ... very dry ... put then in the street.. and then reduce them to about little finger nail size .... so they stayed fluffy ... snow cover is irellevant ... its good ... ignoring my crack about snow thaw in june.. lol ... dont leave them in the glass of water for too long.. they are not aquatic .... few days is OK ... ken