Where are you going to put them when they get there? An already prepared bed? Hadn’t given it a thought? Are you still going to be in zone 8? The faster you can dig them up right now the easier it will be? Ask ken about moving hostas, he’s an expert!

You could keep them in pots until you know where (or have time) to plant them..would you be allowed to come back later to get them?..my neighbor moved hostas before the new owners moved in but came back later to get more..this was in agreement with the new owners..

how many????

get enough plastic grocery bags ... dig hosta .. stick in bag.. move them to new house ... place in shade.. open top of bag ...

then figure out how to fill all the holes ...

plant asap ... within a few weeks ... or pot ...

they can all be put in one nursery bed ... and planted in more permanent spots in fall ...

keep in mind.. your goal is to MOVE THEM ... it is NOT how to create a new perfect garden ... when you keep that in mind ... the job becomes much easier ...

more later.... if you give us more facts .. e.g. just take pieces of giant clumps ... leave behind duplicates of the common cheap ones ... etc ...

ken

Cathy, I would suggest you go get some pots (decorative or not) and dig them up now. I learned the hard way with my first house that once an offer is on the house the plants in ground are part of the property. I had to leave a bunch of stuff, or give back some money to the buyer to take my plants.

I am about to list my current house, so I’ve dug up and potted all the plants that have sentimental value to me. I put many of my hostas in pretty pots and are using them to stage but like furniture, the potted plants are considered not part of the property.

two weeks enough time for what ...

they are hosta... they can probably be let.. bare root.. on the driveway until September.. and still live.. though they might not look best.. lol ...

do not use dirt in the pots.. buy a bag of potting media ... wet it first.. then pot them up ...

if you go to a good nursery.. to buy the media... they might have a bin of free recycled pots ... bleach them out with 10% solution to clean them ...

ken

Just my opinion (your home your choice) but I wouldn't prune that tree..in the winter it's naked at the bottom..just dirt no hostas..planted elsewhere the hostas wouldn't have root competition..it looks like you have lots of space to work with..nice place!!..

I'm excited for you!..you can tell someone has been caring for your new garden..just a beautiful pic to show you..you could create beds between some of your trees and shrubs..

I'm not much help to suggest which hostas like sun but others here WILL know..none of my hostas get much sun haha..keep sharing pics as you create your garden..you have a huge garden!..mine feels plenty big and it's just half the size of yours..you will never be bored..

Cathy, congrats on your new place, it looks beautiful (and extra special since it was your mom's and sister's)! I'm with Ken--I've dug up and moved or "stored" hostas in plastic grocery bags for about a week in the shade (up against the house foundation anyway). Just make sure they have at least one hole on the bottom for drainage so water doesn't accumulate. As others have mentioned, you could also put them into pots and leave them that way (indefinitely) until you're ready to plant in ground. Or you could plant them all, let's say, in the front of the house, and then move them later as you decide on where/how to make new beds in the back. As for sun, most of my hostas are in part-sun (lots of sun but not South exposure), but that's Ohio sun. A relative has hers in full Ohio sun, and they need a lot of watering, and still don't grow as tall as in part-sun (interestingly, they put out lots of shoots/leaves but the mounds stays shorter than mine). IMO they do best with some sun...neither full sun nor full shade. That said, I don't know if I could recommend any for full SC sun, but hopefully others will chime in. I also agree in that I would not delay digging your hostas up, regardless of whether or not you already have a buyer. Move them as soon as you can, and then figure out the rest.

Cathy, it looks like a lovely place!!! But PLEASE don't limb-up that evergreen tree! It has a beautiful, natural shape, and looks healthy and happy. Many of us wait years and years for our trees to grow to maturity... you've already got some nice mature trees there.... just work around them. (My two cents.)

I will add my congrats to you as well. Here is the invaluable list from Don Rawson to see which of yours are more Sun tolerant

I was having a large silver maple pruned, so I moved my hostas in large plastic bags up the driveway. Then the man went onA hunting trip for 10 days! I just kept watering them and took the time to reinvigorate the soil in the bed. 3 1/2 weeks later, I replanted them and they just thrived. And this was in August!!

Cathy - you will have lots of fun planning and building your new garden! Your seedlings (how are they doing anyway?) will have a nice new home!

When you get a chance, maybe you can get the folks on the "tree" forum to give you the accurate names of your new trees. They might need more close-up photos of leaves, etc....

How much stuff is going to come up on your new property that was planted by your Mom? Winter pictures can look so empty when the reality is sleeping below ground.

I think it’s so nice that you’ll be living in your family home!

Too bad about the seedings... but you’re right about starting over. That’s why I didn’t start any this year... I knew I’d have a lot of trips and back-and-forth to my MIL’s this winter/spring. And it continues.... however, I volunteered to help pot-up and raise several dozen hosta transplants for the hosta club, in preparation for the spring sale, so I’ll be staying put in April and May.

Congrats on your new home and adventure!

I also have to find out which Hostas go in the sun and shade.

==>>>

i feel so unloved.. being ignored ... rotflmbo ...

no you dont have to find that out NOW ... your goal is to move them ...

just move them .. period.. you will have years to figure out the rest ...

btw ... ALL hosta can grow in sun .. and in fact.. they will grow larger .. faster .. in sun ... providing of course.. you try to drown them.. and provide enough water ... and even then.. they will start looking ratty in mid summer ... but they will be bigger next year.. because they grew more roots ...

focus on the project.. you will have plenty of time for the rest later ... MOVE THEM

ken

I'm in 8a also. My experience is that hosta will take morning sun in the south, but will really suffer in more sun than that.

I'm at 32 degrees latitude. I don't know where you are in SC, but Charleston is at 32 degrees also. The angle of the sun is more direct than where Ken lives (Michigan) or Don Rawson (Michigan) and is much stronger and hotter.

In full sun at my house, the hosta would be toast by June 15, if it survived.

bkay