GARDENING
Hurrah for the Hosta! T
he Hosta is a herbaceous perennial that is tough and winter hardy, grown primarily for their impressive foliage which is varied in both size and colour range.
Hostas vary in size, some no more than a few centimetres across up to the giants that can grow into an enormous clump of up to a metre across making a dramatic statement in any garden. They are useful for planting in damp or shady places where many other plants might struggle, but some with wonderful lush bright foliage are perfect for brightening up any gloomy corner. The yellow leaved Hostas will endure more sun and are a better performer in a sunnier spot. Whilst they do produce upright flowers mainly in pastel shades of white, pink or lilac, it is primarily grown for the foliage and some gardeners remove the flowers to preserve the quality of the leaves. The hosta with it’s luscious foliage is unparalleled for accent and ground cover effect.‘Halcyon’ will make a dense clump of blue-green oval foliage which is particularly slug resistant. Some varieties are far more resistant to slug damage which becomes more prevalent as the season moves on. The big issue with growing Hostas is their desirability to slugs and snails, there are many treatments to help reduce damage like crushed eggshells sprinkled under your Hostas. Coffee grindings are also helpful if thickly mulched around your plants as the slugs find it difficult to move over the coffee. Copper bands are also good as they don’t like crossing it.There are also a variety of organic remedies to deter the pests. However if you love your Hostas come what may, then having a display
of lacy leaved specimens is something some fanatics to the Hosta are prepared to live with. On a visit to Prince Charles’s Highgrove garden i noted that his Royal Highness’s Hostas were decimated by slugs and were so holey they resembled a lace tablecloth, but for him with his organic principles he was prepared to accept them in his garden that way and I and many other Hosta growers can go along with that. Hostas are a moisture loving plant and it’s probably true to say if you want your plants to grow quickly and to maximum size to look good all season then give as much water as you can. Easy to divide in the spring when growth is at its fastest, top dress with a little high Nitrogen feed early in the season. Chicken manure pellets gently forked into the soil will feed your plants perfectly. I enjoy my hostas they are tough versatile and adaptable plants and if you collect the more resistant varieties to slugs then you will be rewarded with a fabulous plant perfect for any patio pot or container and their saving grace is that they are totally disease resistant.
Karl Strawbridge
Wagon House Gardens The Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury, B60 4BU Tel: 01527 821421
Jobs in the garden for July Deadhead any repeat flowering perennials to promote more flowers Cut back hardy geraniums to get a second flush Divide clumps of Iris, trim the tops and replant Keep picking sweet peas Boost your Tomato crop with a liquid tomato feed
12 Completely Bromsgrove
