How to Winterize Hostas
Hostas can be the perfect way to dress up your landscaping, especially for shady areas where it can be difficult to find plants that will thrive. They go dormant each winter and you should learn how to winterize hostas for their protection. Properly prepared for cold winters, hostas can survive, but when soil warms up and refreezes the frost heave can dislodge plants leaving them exposed to the cold.
Quit fertilizing towards the end of each summer. Preferably the last week of July into August. This will stop new growth from forming that will be exposed to winterkill in freezing temperatures. If you want to extend the growing season and protect hostas from an occasional frost, you can cover them with burlap bags for a night or two when necessary.
Use garden shears to remove plant leaves and stems. Cut the plants to the ground when they begin to turn brown, usually right after the first good frost. It is a smart idea to mark the location of your hostas by pushing a stick into the ground, so you can find them easily in the spring.
Cover the entire area where the hosta is growing with three inches of mulch. Make sure it is completely covered. Mulching protects the plant from harsh winter winds, cold temperatures and ground heaving. Use straw as mulch because although it absorbs rain or water from snow it is light enough that it dries quickly. Mulches such as shredded bark and sawdust absorb too much water and excessive moisture around hosta crowns may lead to root or crown rot.
- Remove the mulch from hostas each spring when the weather finally warms the ground.