Here's Lakeside Old Smokey in 2017

In 2018 it suffered from a nearby burning bush and maple tree roots.

Last year, I finally took out the burning bush, root pruned the maple tree, and replanted L. Old Smokey after saving a couple eyes in a pot just in case. It's going to take a couple years, but I expect it to reclaim its former glory.

rotflmbo ...

be honest... you felt better after throwing it on the driveway ...

ken

Have a great vacation Paula!

Steve I remember the torching and I know it seemed like a good idea at the time. I am sure many of us have thought about it. Now we will all think twice, thanks for sharing that. We do learn from our/others mistakes!

I use a garden fork but need the shovel for the rocks.

None of your hostas seem too bad....peren, I am happy to see that little starlet because it looks like one I have been trying to ID.

Here are the worst,

This thing is a slug magnet——it’s out!

Poor, poor diamond Tiara, it’s either going or getting moved. This part of my garden seemed to have a lot of slugs

This also became a slug/bug magnet. Lots of holes

August Moon looks good most of the summer but by mid August is getting burned

djacobs thanks but if you click to enlarge the pic you will see a lot of "celery stalks". You should start a post on the one that looks like Little Starlet. It would be nice to get an ID for it.

You did slug prevention this past fall though correct? and that should help. If you keep after them you should notice a significant improvement...and then maybe you won't want to ditch them.

Ummm...yeah the hosta on the driveway picture made me laugh! And I love the first image "it's not enough". Never.

Now, this is ugly,

Guacamole

Peren, I will get some spring pictures this year and that should help. All I have are lousy pictures. I may move it to less sun as it seemed so burned out. Thanks for the suggestion.

Praying Hands..a pair in pots..under attack by squirrels..one is worse..I saw squirrels on the pots several times..I tried plastic forks..rocks..time to plant them in the ground..🤔

I love this cartoon..

I think it may possibly be verticillium wilt .

==>> in hosta????

am i forgetting hosta stuff already???

probably best to start a new post on that topic.. rather than leave it buried here ...

ken

the best part of steves pic.. is that it was obviously taken last summer ... and hes been holding it for this joke now.. now that is planning ahead ...

ken

ken..Paula's next post should be 'Hostas on the Driveway'..

I was about to delete these pics but here they are. Moving these poor things and hope they do better.

Gold Standard, Royal Standard, and albomarginata. Yuck!

I have been trying to get this one to grow. My son's name is Andrew so I really want to have this hosta. Moved it to a sunnier spot hopefully that helps.

Andrew in the center

Ghost Spirit - this was taken mid August, it was all downhill from there. The leaves were pretty much gone my mid September

Northern Exposure - still trying to get this one to grow. Moved it to a sunnier spot if that doesn't work it is a goner.

Victory - never put out leaves. I think water might of pooled over it in the late winter thaw. Might need to get a new one.

Oh beth, I think you will need a new Victory, or maybe you should pot it up for a summer and plant in late summer if it’s doing well.

Any hosta can get freeze damage. Planting on a slope helps. A big one like Victory will need all the water it can drink. And plenty of sun If it gets that moisture.

djacobz and hosta_maker thanks for the advice. If my Victory comes up this year I might try putting it in a pot to get it growing.

Nicholsworth, it would be a shame to have to plant your Praying Hands hosta in the ground. Your pots are so nice! Would you be willing to try using some plastic mesh with ground staples? This would be placed around the hostas and pinned down with the staples. You could put a bit of soil on top so it would not be seen.

My father had plastic mesh with holes approximately 1/4 inch. He would lay it on the grass when the squirrels dug up his grass too much.

I was able to get some kind of mesh on a roll from Home Depot. You could also try the netting that comes when you buy onions or potatoes- --or even plastic canvas mesh that you do needlepoint on. You just need to have mesh that will allow rain to go through.

newhostalady..I was excited when I put Praying Hands in those pots..I've seen pics of Praying Hands in pots that were so pretty..my concern about netting..would it prevent the hosta from growing to the edges of the pot?..some days I hate squirrels..I found some grapefruit sized holes yesterday where I planted ferns last year..I put rocks by them and the squirrels dug a big hole anyway grrrr..so even if I plant Praying Hands in the ground they could still be under attack..the joy of gardening Lol..

These are questions I would ask:

Why are the squirrels digging in my pots? Is it possible that they buried food in them and are looking for it---and that's why they are so determined?

Are seeds from trees falling into the pot and they want to eat them or bury them?

Are you attracting squirrels to your garden by feeding them or providing water?

You could try using chicken wire held down with large staples and small rocks (and covered with some dirt to hide it). If the hosta grows, you can just cut the wire to enlarge the center. If you miss doing that, the hosta eyes should be able to grow through the wire mesh and you could cut part of the mesh with wire cutters later.

I provide water year round. I have discovered that it has attracted raccoons (that like to defecate on my property)!

I was also feeding the birds year round. That also attracted raccoons, squirrels, mice, skunks, opossum etc. Squirrels would dig in my pots! I decided to stop feeding the birds from May to September. The population of squirrels was greatly reduced. I do continue to provide water. That really attracts raccoons! They dirty the birdbath every time they come. That's how I know they have used it.

newhostalady..I can't remember if I told you..I don't get notifications when you comment!..Houzz is so pathetic..the answer is yes to bird/squirrel feeding..as for trees..I have oaks and hickories..the neighbors have walnuts..but the trees aren't near the pots..I've seen squirrels on those pots so I blamed them for all of the damage but the house closest to the pots has raccoons under their deck..they don't worry about them..I'm wondering if the raccoons did the worst damage to my pots??..I didn't use fish emulsion or blood meal which I've heard they like..I was hoping if I gave the squirrels treats they wouldn't bother my pots..the hawks and owls keep the rodent population down..I haven't had trouble with raccoons on my birdbath but they bother the neighbor's pond..the squirrels do bury nuts in my pots..and in the beds..it's understandable that they would..I have some time to figure it out..maybe move them to the deck where I can keep my eyes on them..

Last year I went to a class that talked about wildlife and the problems gardeners encountered with them. It really opened my eyes when the instructor asked "what are you doing to attract them?" It was then that I realized that I was part of the problem. If I was going to feed the birds and provide water for them, I was going to attract more than the birds. The wildlife will do what is natural for them---to find food and water! It sounded so simple. It was a package deal! I love watching the birds come to my bird feeder. I didn't love ALL the squirrels digging in my garden and pots . . . I didn't love all the other critters I had now invited to my garden. The worst of all of them for me are the raccoons. When they dig in the pots, they tip them over and remove the whole plant! Even worse, they defecate on our property. They find places they love to use and they do it over and over and over! One spot is the roof of our small shed. Yes, the roof! It is flat, but on a slant. It has been really difficult to get them to stop doing it there.

So I had to rethink what was important to me. That's how I decided I would stop feeding the birds during the growing season. The squirrel population has decreased dramatically. The raccoons are slow to leave.

Nicholsworth, sounds like your squirrels have plenty to eat with what the trees are providing. But if the food you are giving the squirrels is easier to access, then the squirrels will gravitate to that.

Sounds like your neighbor's pond attracts a lot of critters. I wouldn't like having raccoons under my deck. Nor would I like to have my neighbors have raccoons under their deck. I think it is just asking for trouble---like more raccoons in the future?

Just purchased some garden mesh from the dollar store. Looks perfect for screening on top of pots. I also cut it and put a piece on the bottom of my pots to keep the media in and insects out!

Here is a picture of the garden mesh that I would use over the drainage hole of a pot. I would also use it on the media of a pot to discourage squirrels. Inexpensive at the dollar store.

I have no idea why it is coming out upside down. But you get the drift anyways . . .

nicholsworth and newhostalady, I wonder if what you have isn't chipmunks rather than squirrels. I didn't bother too much with the chipmunks around here ("so small, so cute, what can they do") until I found they were burrowing under my garage slab and digging for grubs/roots in my gardens, burrowing into pots and eating all the roots of my herbs etc, and stealing every single cherry tomato or strawberry. What's worse is that they were destroying the piping for my drip irrigation system.

I don't feed birds, so that wasn't it. There's just a LOT of garden around here - lots of shelter and access to the water because I'm on a lake - and it's paradise for them as well as me.

So last summer I bought three live traps specifically for chipmunks/rats, which on trapping days I baited with peanut butter and placed near all the spots where I'd seen them sit staring at me, or under the hostas where I'd seen them racing for cover. Often I'd have a deportee within a couple hours. You have to check often because you don't want them to get dehydrated and die in there. Don't forget where you last put your trap, like I sadly once did. :(

I had to do a bunch of driving to deport them far enough - at least 4 miles away - and always sought somewhere near a water source (I live in lake country) and away from other folks' houses/farms. I must have deported at least 3 dozen. By golly I haven't seen a single chipmunk all winter, for the first time ever.

They'll be back of course, but hopefully not in such numbers. I won't stop being vigilant and I'll try never to let a colony establish here again. -- Joan

newhostalady..I just now saw your comment from March 13!..I agree with every word that you said..why wouldn't a squirrel go for dry roasted peanuts if they're available?..it's a dilemma because I LOVE the birds..my neighbor is foolish allowing a raccoon to live and raise babies under his deck..I'm so thankful that I don't have more issues than I do..your black mesh would be just about invisible..

Northern Gardener..I have chipmunks too..it's possible that they are part of my problem..as of now I haven't seen a chipmunk in my pots..I can't say that about squirrels..

Wow, that's a lot of damage from a chipmunk Joan! I am glad you were able to find a solution to the problem.

For me, it's definitely squirrels, but I also have little red squirrels. They are awfully cute, but they are tougher than they look! My husband made a short fence from wooden stakes and burlap to help keep leaves from blowing away in the garden. Well, the little red squirrel has been seen pulling apart the burlap to take the material for nesting. The burlap is shredded and has been pulled away from the stakes! That's one tough little red squirrel!

Do you have these squirrels too?

Nicholsworth, I love the birds too! We have a lot of joy in seeing them in our garden. But I have to say that I am OK with not feeding the birds during the growing season. I just consider that I am taking a break. Then I start it up again in September. I find it a win/win situation---no food in summer and the squirrels and raccoons are greatly reduced. Then I feed the birds from September to about April or May and get to see them come back to our garden again.

Hi again newhostalady. Yes, I have the red squirrels too. And gray ones. At least two of the deportees from last summer were red squirrels; but most of them were chipmunks. Every morning I would see lots of small holes dug into the (aging) mulch that I laid down around my fire pit/seating area. I think they were going for the tree roots that are growing through that area, and so easy to get at. The irrigation guys thought it was rabbits that were after my piping, but when I told them how many chipmunks I'd actually seen, and how relatively few rabbits, they nodded sagely and said that was the problem then. I'm not sure if the red squirrels are as bad? But they do drive away the gentler old gray squirrels, so I don't mind trapping them.

newhostalady..no red squirrels here..they're very cute..if I thought my squirrels would decrease I'd stop feeding birds too..but I have a feeling that it wouldn't make any difference..remember my "could be dead" Blue Mouse Ears..I found an oak tree growing in it!..WHY would a squirrel bury an acorn in such a tiny pot?..I pulled the tree out and watered it..I'll try replanting tomorrow..it's sitting too high..the other pot has one pip that's growing..squirrels are so aggravating..

Well, the squirrel isn't planting a tree, it's hiding food. Who would think of looking for an acorn in such a small pot. It's genius!

Every time I see signs of squirrel digging, I'm afraid its a deer print. I'll trade all of your squirrels for my deer - and if you want to throw in your foxes and eagles, I'll take those too.

steve..in the scheme of things squirrels are a "smaller" nuisance than deer..I love most of my critters..I've had lots of oak trees in pots..you're right..the squirrels are using my pots as a pantry..my late Aunt Betty (who lived in Alaska ever since I was 5) came to Indiana every year and would stay for several months..she was fascinated with squirrels..she didn't have them in Alaska..if we moved to Alaska we wouldn't have squirrel problems..but would we have hostas?..I don't know..

Yes, we would have Hosta. Would they become annuals? I don't know.

was curious and googled..this says some will survive..