african false hosta care

African hosta care is simple once the plants are established. They are not picky about soil type, tolerate some salt, and do well in heat and drought. There are no particular pests or diseases that bother African hosta, but shade-loving pests like slugs or snails may do some damage.

Do hostas like full sun or shade?

Hostas are great plants for a low-maintenance garden, with many varieties to choose from. Though they are considered shade-tolerant plants, most will not thrive if grown in deep shade. Many hostas are more vigorous and will show best colors when given some exposure to sun, such as morning sun with afternoon shade.

Can hostas grow in complete shade?

It's for good reason—hostas absolutely love shade. Indeed, they languish in the hot afternoon sun so your shady landscape will provide them just the right conditions. ... Hostas grow well in all but the warmest parts of the country as they are hardy in zones 3-9.

Are used coffee grounds good for hostas?

Hostas will benefit from an application of coffee grounds used as mulch because of their relatively high nitrogen content, but you need to use the grounds judiciously. Too much coffee grounds spread around Hostas can form an impermeable layer that hinders water and air from reaching the roots.

Should I cut off Brown hosta leaves?

Hostas should be cut back in late fall. Healthy hosta leaves can be left on in the early fall to help the roots store much-needed energy, but all leaves should be trimmed off after the first frost to deter slugs and other pests from making your plant a winter home. Try to have the leaves removed prior to snowfall.

How far apart should you plant hostas?

To fill in areas, you should space large hostas about 30 to 36 inches apart, medium-sized hostas 18 to 24 inches apart, small hostas at 12 to 18 inches and the dwarf varieties closest at 6 to 8 inches. Even when spaced appropriately, hostas can outgrow their space and need thinning if they appear crowded.

Do hostas multiply?

Versatile and easy to grow, most hosta varieties spread readily once they are established. They grow from rhizomes that spread just below soil level, and healthy clumps of hostas can be divided into smaller clumps every few years to share with friends, family and neighbors.

What grows well in shady areas?

For damp shade, you can plant:

Astilbe (False Goat's Beard)
Astrantia major (Hattie's Pincushion)
Carex flagellifera (Sedge)
Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' (Golden Privet), which can handle even deep shade.
Primula (Primrose)
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

What perennial looks good with hostas?

Most shady perennials like astilbes (Astilbe spp. and cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 3–8) and meadow rues (Thalictrum spp. and cvs., Zones 3–10) are excellent color companions for hostas, but they bloom only for a few weeks. Use shade-tolerant annuals like impatiens (Impatiens walleriana cvs.), nicotiana (Nicotiana spp.

Do hostas like the shade?

All hostas give their best in moist soil in partial shade, whether in the ground or a container. In general, though, yellow-leaved cultivars prefer some sun, along with a few hosta that are tolerant of sunny conditions.

Can you put too much coffee grounds in your garden?

Because they are acidic, coffee grounds make good acid mulch. Of course, too much of anything is just too much, so apply coffee grounds in limited amounts. ... Working coffee grounds into the soil will improve its tilth, but do this sparingly unless you have acid-loving plants, like camellias and azaleas.

Which plants do not like coffee grounds?

In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.

Do coffee grounds hurt hostas?

The simple answer is yes, coffee grounds are good for hostas when used correctly. However, that doesn't mean you should rush to dump all your spent grounds into your hosta garden. When used incorrectly, coffee grounds can have adverse effects and even potentially kill your hostas.

Will a freeze kill hostas?

A very late frost or freeze can damage the young leaves of some ornamental trees. ... If hosta leaves are partially open these can also exhibit frost damage. The plants may not look as nice as you would like all summer, but the cold won't actually kill any of them.

Should I deadhead hostas?

Deadheading in the perennial garden is necessary, too, to keep it tidy and keep plants blooming longer, extending their season. ... Most hostas though, have faded looking lavender flowers that tend to hang to one side of the stem and look unsightly. They should be removed just to keep the plants looking good.

Should hosta flowers be cut off?

The American Hosta Society recommends cutting off each scape after three-fourths of the flowers have bloomed; this keeps the plants from diverting energy into setting seeds for the next year so instead they'll grow more roots and leaves.

What is the best time to divide hostas?

Splitting hostas is best done in spring or early fall. Ideally, plan on dividing hostas before spring or fall rains arrive. Hostas suffer most when they lose roots, so dig as much of the rootball as possible. If you just need a few divisions, dig small clumps that have formed beside the larger parent clump.

Where is the best place to plant hostas?

To plant hostas, select a spot that receives partial to full shade. Most types of hostas can withstand morning sun but prefer a shady setting. It's important to know that these perennials grow best in soil that's fertile and full of organic matter.

Is it OK to plant hostas under trees?

Placed on the north or east side of a home or in a tree-shaded area, hostas typically thrive. Lakowske does have one caveat about placing a hosta under a shade tree: “Don't put them under maple trees.

Why do you split hostas?

Dividing hosta plants is an easy way to maintain the size and shape of your plants, to propagate new plants for other areas of the garden, and to remove dead portions of the plant and to make it look nicer.

How often should you split hostas?

You'll know your hostas need to be divided when they get too crowded and the center of a clump starts to die out. As a general rule, count on dividing the plants every three to four years to keep them at their healthiest.

Are hosta roots invasive?

Hostas are perennial plants which grow from rhizomes. ... During the summer growing season, new Hosta shoots will grow around the outer perimeter. They do not spread from underground roots and become invasive. Hostas thrive in total shade to nearly full sun which makes them ideal for planting under trees.