Content
Every gardener dreams of planting unusual plants on his plot. Hosta Liberty is just from this series. She is easy to care for and practically never gets sick. But an ornamental plant with beautiful large leaves of unusual colors will appear in the garden.
In Japan, hosta is considered a sacred plant.
Description of Liberty hosts
Hosta Liberty is a spreading perennial. It can grow in one place for decades, becoming larger from year to year. The decorative effect does not appear immediately after planting, but after five years. The height of an adult plant ranges from 50-70 cm.
The flower has large, wide leaves with unusual colors. The edges are much lighter than the middle part. They can be green and golden, yellow and light blue. But most often the leaf blades of the variety are distinguished by a yellow or creamy white color.
Inconspicuous, very small, funnel-shaped lavender-colored buds appear on the racemose inflorescences. They bloom on a peduncle, the length of which is 10-20 cm, sometimes up to 30 cm. For the first 2-3 years after planting, it is not recommended to leave peduncles, so as not to weaken the root system.
The light yellow border along the edge of the leaf blade is located unevenly; by autumn it becomes creamy
The crop should be planted in areas where there is openwork shade. Open sun for 2-3 hours in the morning, lunch and evening is enough for them. The shade for Hosta Liberty is not suitable, since the pattern on the leaf blades appears weakly or is completely absent.
Liberty hostas grow slowly. After planting, 2-3 rosettes appear first. And after 2-3 years - a lush curtain, occupying an area of at least half a meter. This must be taken into account when choosing a location.
Hosta Liberty is a frost-resistant plant, so it takes root well in all regions of Russia.
Application in landscape design
Hosta Liberty, like other representatives of the culture, does not cause problems when planting. It can be grown:
- Alone or next to other flowers.
- In tree trunk circles under low trees or shrubs.
- Along the paths or on the green lawn.
- Hosta Liberty is an excellent option for growing in tubs, flowerpots on the street or loggia.
Since the variety loses its decorative effect in dense shade, planting under tall trees is not recommended
Reproduction methods
There are different methods of reproduction:
- dividing the bush;
You can get high-quality and viable planting material from bushes older than four years
- seeds;
Seed-grown hostas develop slowly
- cuttings or leaf blades;
It will take about a month for the leaves or cuttings to root.
Landing algorithm
Like many garden crops, Hosta Liberty has a negative attitude towards frequent transplants.As noted in the description, the decorativeness of the bush increases with age. That is why it is worth considering in advance where to place a flower with multi-colored leaves.
Site selection
This should be an area with openwork shade, well protected from wind and drafts. You can plant hostas near ponds or near the house on the north side.
As for the soil, the crop prefers a humus composition and good moisture. It is best to plant Hosta Liberty on neutral or slightly acidic soils.
Hosta planting dates
You also need to decide on the timing. The end of August or the beginning of September (depending on the region) is the most optimal time. As long as the temperature remains above zero, the plant will have time to take root, therefore, it will survive the winter without loss.
Landing algorithm
In the 2-3rd year of the hosta, Liberty grows greatly. If you plan to place several plants on the site, then holes should be dug at a distance of at least 60-80 cm. Unlike other crops, a deep hole is not needed for a flower, 3-4 cm is enough (excluding drainage).
Stages of work:
- Be sure to put drainage at the bottom of the seat: broken bricks, large pebbles.
- Mix garden soil with humus, compost and wood ash and sprinkle on top.
- Spread the roots of the hosta seedling and sprinkle with nutritious soil.
It is not recommended to deeply bury Hosta Liberty.
- After planting, lightly compact the soil and water thoroughly.
The hosta needs to be moistened carefully around the bush so as not to damage the roots.
- To retain moisture, mulch with bark or sawdust.
Growing rules
The Liberty hosta variety is demanding on water. The soil should always be kept moist. That is why the plant feels great near bodies of water.
Water at the root, trying not to get on the leaves. The work is planned for early morning or evening, when the sun's rays are not so hot. In addition, raw leaf blades can deteriorate, allowing snails, slugs and other insects to settle on them.
Loosening the soil and removing weeds are mandatory activities, especially in the first years when the bushes are small.
Hosta Liberty is fed only in the third year after planting. The plant has enough nutrients that have been added to the soil. In the future, fertilizing with fertilizers containing nitrogen will be required - at least four times during the growing season.
To prevent the bushes from losing their decorative appearance, it is recommended to cut out the flower stalks after they wither. Adult bushes also lose this quality, which is a signal for replanting.
Preparing for winter
In September, when the first frosts begin, the leaves of the Liberty hosta are pruned. Frost-resistant plants do not require any special shelter. You just need to mulch the root zone.
Hosta roots can be damaged by mice in winter. Often in the spring, plants are simply destroyed. Therefore, you need to put poisonous baits under the mulch. There is another way: when planting, metal mesh bags with small cells are lowered into the hole, into which the seedling is placed.
Diseases and pests
Despite the fact that Hosta Liberty is rarely affected by diseases, and slugs and snails are among the pests, we should not forget about the problems. At the first signs, it is important to take drastic measures.
This little pest spoils the decorative appearance of the hosta.
Diseases and pests | Signs | Control measures |
Gray rot | It first affects the tips of the leaf blades, then moves to the surface | Cut off leaves with signs of disease, then treat the bushes with any of the following preparations: · "Kuproksat"; · Bordeaux mixture; · “Topaz”; · "Champion" |
Phyllosticosis | The cause of the disease is fungi. Their colonies can be recognized by small brown spots. If you don't take action, they merge. As a result, the entire plate turns brown and then dries out. | After cutting out, burn the diseased leaves, and to treat the bushes use: · "Vector"; · "Abiga-Peak"; · "Strobe" solution of copper sulfate; colloidal sulfur Repeat spraying after 10 days |
Slugs and snails | Holes are clearly visible on the leaves | Hand picking or insecticide treatment |
Rust | The disease appears in hot weather and is associated with dehydration of plant tissues | Timely watering, if necessary, place canopies or old umbrellas over the bushes |
Caterpillars and beetles | You can notice a pest invasion by chewed leaves. If you don't start fighting, the host will die | Spray with Karbofos or any insecticidal preparations |
Foliar nematodes | If the leaves have black stripes, it means there are a lot of nematodes on the bush | There are no ways to fight. Hosta Liberty will have to be removed and burned along with the soil |
After treatment, you need to wash the tools and thoroughly disinfect them so that disease spores do not spread to other plants.
Conclusion
Hosta Liberty is an ornamental plant that has long attracted the attention of landscape designers. It does not require special care; some gardeners grow bushes in large flowerpots.
