Content
Planting and caring for hosta is carried out according to simple rules: the plant is unpretentious and successfully takes root even on poor soils. The bush quickly takes root and begins to grow actively in the first season after planting.
Secrets of growing hostas in open ground
Hosta (funkia) is a perennial shrub plant characterized by winter hardiness and unpretentiousness, which allows it to be successfully grown in all regions of Russia. As a rule, even novice amateurs manage to get a beautiful, healthy bush.
However, experienced gardeners recommend remembering the basic rules for caring for fungi:
- Hostas love shade, but excessive shading is undesirable: it all depends on the characteristics of a particular variety.
- Funcias are unpretentious, but very responsive to both watering and fertilizing.
- Bushes love light, loose soil, so it is recommended to loosen it periodically.
- Heavily overgrown specimens at the age of 4-5 years should be dug up and divided, planting the children at the same depth as the mother plant.
- There is no need to prune for winter. The bushes tolerate frost well even in open ground, but in some regions it is advisable to lay mulch and also cover them with agrofibre.
Hosta perfectly decorates the garden and does not require special care.
What kind of soil does the hosta like?
Hosta does not have specific soil requirements. She prefers moderately fertile, light loams. The only important point is that the soil should not be waterlogged. Therefore, it is recommended to plant hosta in open ground only on a hill. If groundwater lies close to the surface, drainage (expanded clay, small fragments of brick, pebbles and other stones) must be placed in the planting hole.
How fast does hosta grow?
The growth rate of hosta in open ground depends on the specific variety, i.e. precisely from genetic factors, and not from the conditions of care. This is an unpretentious plant that does not need strong lighting and will easily survive even the absence of regular fertilizing.
According to reviews from summer residents, even in one year you can get a fairly tall hosta bush if you carry out 2-3 feedings per season and monitor other conditions (watering, loosening the soil, growing in the shade). The bush grows for 15-20 years, but the older it gets, the slower its growth rate.
When to plant hosta in open ground
There are two main dates - hosta can be planted in spring or autumn. The timing depends on the specific variety and the climatic conditions of a particular region.
in spring
Planting hostas in open ground is most often done, since over the summer the plant will have time to take root, which will give it the opportunity to successfully overwinter. You can plant from the end of April to the last ten days of May, and you need to focus on the weather forecast. It is necessary that there is no threat of return frosts, i.e. the temperature on the soil did not drop below 4-5 degrees Celsius.
in autumn
Autumn planting in open ground begins at the end of summer: the optimal period for most areas is from late August to mid-September. In this case, it is important that the hosta has time to take root and settle down in a new place. Those. At least 3-4 weeks must pass before the first frost occurs on the soil.
The optimal time for planting hostas in open ground: late April - early May
In the regions
Planting times vary in different climate zones. The following recommendations must be followed:
- In the spring, you can plant hosta in the middle zone at the beginning of May, in Siberia and the Urals - in the second half of the month, in the south - at the end of April.
- In autumn, planting in the middle zone is allowed at the beginning of September, in the south - at the end of the month, in Siberia and the Urals - at the end of August.
How to plant hosta in open ground
When planting hostas, it is important to determine the location and distance between neighboring bushes. Otherwise, the rules are standard - you need to dig up the area, form holes and apply fertilizer.
Where to plant hosta in the country house or in the garden
When choosing a location, pay special attention to the following factors:
- Funcias do not like bright sun, so it is extremely important for them to remain in the shade from larger plants, trees, shrubs and buildings.
- If possible, the site should be protected from strong winds.
- It is also undesirable to plant hostas in lowlands where a lot of moisture accumulates, especially after rains.
Preparing the soil for planting hosta
You can plant hosta in open ground in spring or autumn; for this you need to prepare the soil. The area is pre-cleared and dug up. If the soil is depleted, complex mineral fertilizer is applied in advance (this can be done in the fall). If the soil contains a lot of sand and clay, it is better to purchase planting soil separately and pour it into the hole when planting. Can be mixed with wood ash or with superphosphates and potassium salt.
Distance between hosts when landing
The distance directly depends on the diameter of the future bush, which should be indicated in the description of the variety:
- Low-growing hostas are planted in open ground at a distance of 30-40 cm.
- Medium height – 40-60 cm.
- Tall - 60-90 cm and even up to 1 meter.
Funcias are often planted under trees, in the most shaded place
At what depth to plant hosta?
The depth of planting in open ground also depends on the size of the plant:
- The root collar of large specimens is buried 4-5 cm.
- In medium-sized hostas - 2-3 cm.
- For dwarf plants, they are buried to the minimum level - up to 1-2 cm.
How to plant hosta
In order for the seedlings to take root and delight you with lush greenery, you must adhere to some requirements. The technology for planting in open ground is simple:
- Holes are formed with a shallow depth of 30 cm and an average diameter of 60-70 cm.
- If necessary, drain the bottom with small stones.
- Mix fertile soil with 2-3 pinches of wood ash or a mixture of superphosphate and potassium salt (20-30 g per hole).
- Hosta is planted.
- Lay the soil and water it abundantly.
- You can put a layer of mulch on top - peat, hay, straw.
How to care for hosta
Hosta is one of the most undemanding perennial bushes. The plant takes root even on not very fertile soil. It is advisable to follow at least the minimum rules of care.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Hostas are responsive to regular watering, since under natural conditions they grow in places with excess moisture. Therefore, if dry weather sets in, you need to organize weekly watering. The volume depends on the size of the bush - large ones are given 2-3 buckets of water, dwarf ones - 10 liters is enough. You need to water at the root, otherwise the leaves may get burned.
Feed the hosta in open ground 3-4 times per season:
- In the spring, in April, humus or nitrogen fertilizer is given.
- In June, 2 times (with an interval of 1 month) they are fed with a mixture of superphosphates and potassium salt.
- At the end of August, they give a similar composition or a special remedy, for example, Fertika Osen, Ogorodnik Osennee.
Following the rules of planting and care allows you to get a lush outdoor hosta with beautiful flowers and rich greenery (pictured).
You can grow a beautiful hosta in almost all regions of Russia.
Loosening, mulching the soil
It is necessary to loosen the soil 3-4 times per season, i.e. monthly. It is especially important to do this after fertilizing, then the nutrients will quickly reach the roots and all tissues of the plant. The soil is loosened to a shallow depth using a small shovel or fork.
It is advisable to mulch the soil with organic matter, such as peat, humus or compost. You can also add a layer of old straw or sawdust. It is advisable to do this immediately after planting the funkiya in open ground, then the soil will retain moisture longer and caring for the plant will become easier.
Pruning rules
Whether or not to prune a hosta for the winter is up to each gardener to decide for himself. In many regions, funkia overwinters in the open ground with its foliage, in others it is cut off almost at the root - this is left to the discretion of the summer resident.
At the same time, pruning the hosta in the spring is very desirable: it is necessary to remove all old leaves and shoots to stimulate the growth of new greenery. It is also necessary to remove flower stalks so that the plant does not waste energy on the formation of excess seeds.
Preparing for winter
Many hosta varieties are winter-hardy, so they can easily survive the cold period in the open ground, even without additional shelter. But in regions with extreme winters, it is advisable to take care of the plant:
- At the end of summer, all fading flower stalks are removed (almost to the root).
- Remove all old, damaged leaves.
- Mulch the roots with peat, hay or pine needles.
- If the bush is young and winters are usually harsh, it is advisable to cover it with agrofibre.But it is better to remove it immediately in March - otherwise the host will rot.
Thanks to regular application of nutrients, the bush will become attractive.
Possible problems when growing hosta
Most of the problems that arise when growing hosta in the garden are related to caring for the flower:
- If the funkia does not bloom, it means that there is too much shade in the place where it grows or the bush is very dense. Then you need to split it. Another reason is that the variety is late; for example, in Siberia, some hostas may not bloom in open ground.
- The foliage dries, perhaps spraying is carried out on hot days, with drops falling on the leaves. Leaves may dry out if there is insufficient watering.
- Rusty spots appeared on the hosta - very little watering. It is necessary to increase the volume of water, and also transplant the bush to a more shaded place.
Why hosta grows poorly
Hosta may not develop well due to various factors. The main reasons for this phenomenon:
- After transplanting or moving to another region, the host will grow very slowly at first. It is recommended to loosen the soil more often and apply nitrogen fertilizer (only for spring planting).
- If the hosta was grown as seedlings and planted in open ground quite late (for example, in April), this may also be the cause of a delay in development. Already in the second half of summer, the bush will begin to grow normally, and again you need to add fertilizers to the soil (immediately after transplantation - nitrogen).
- If the bush has been growing for a long time, but has now begun to develop more slowly, this may be due to insufficient watering.
Features of planting and caring for hosta in the regions
Planting dates, winter shelter and other care features largely depend on the region. Conventionally, the territory of Russia can be divided into 3 climatic zones - the Moscow region, the Urals and Siberia.
In outskirts of Moscow
In the Moscow region, almost all types of hostas take root in open ground conditions. The most popular varieties for this region:
- Patriot;
- Podorozhnikova;
- Marginata;
- Fortune;
- Narrow-leaved;
- Wavy and many others.
The plant can be transplanted into open ground as early as early May. If a dry summer has set in, watering is given weekly, 1-3 buckets of water per bush, depending on the size of the plant. For the winter, it is enough to just mulch the roots with sawdust, peat or fallen leaves. It is not necessary to trim and cover with agrofibre.
Hostas can be grown in open ground in the middle zone, the Urals, Siberia and other regions
In the Urals
Several varieties of hosta are suitable for growing in open ground in the conditions of the Ural region, for example:
- Blue Mouse Ears;
- Guacamole (Guacamole);
- June (June) and others.
The ideal soil option is light loam with a neutral reaction of the environment. But if this is not the case, you can add fertile soil based on turf soil, compost and humus (ratio 2:1:1) into the planting hole.
Since the Urals often have hot summers (as well as in Siberia), watering hostas in open ground must be monitored especially carefully. If there is a drought, water is given at least once a week. The soil is mulched to prevent drying out. Preparation for winter is standard - lay a layer of mulch, young seedlings can be covered with agrofibre.
In Siberia
For cultivation in open ground in Siberia, frost-resistant hosta varieties are chosen, for example:
- Abiqua Drinking Gourd (Abiqua Drinking Guard);
- Gold Standard;
- American Halo;
- Cherry Berry;
- Canadian Blue.
It is recommended to plant in spring rather than autumn, since the bushes have time to take root well over the summer. In August and September, be sure to remove all wilted flower stalks. The soil is watered abundantly to prepare the plant for the winter. To do this, you also need to mulch the tree trunk circle with peat, pine needles, dry leaves or other available material. It is advisable to additionally cover young plants with agrofibre.
Diseases and pests
Hostas are not very often affected by pests and diseases, but when grown in open ground the risks increase. Bushes can be parasitized by:
- foliar nematodes;
- different types of beetles;
- caterpillars;
- snails
As a preventive measure, it is necessary to periodically inspect the hosta bushes, and if pests are present, immediately treat it with any insecticide (Aktara, Decis, Konfidor). If there is an invasion of slugs, crushed eggshells can be sprinkled next to the flower bed.
Among the diseases, the most dangerous are the Hosta X virus and fungal infections:
- anthracnose;
- rust;
- root collar rot;
- gray rot;
- phyllosticosis and others.
It is difficult or even impossible to treat these diseases. Therefore, it is better to practice prevention - do not over-moisten the soil, and also treat hosta bushes immediately after transplanting them into open ground. For this, fungicides are used (Fitosporin, Bordeaux mixture, Skor, Topaz and others.
Damaged parts of the plant should be cut off and burned.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for hosta is quite simple, since funkia is one of the most picky plants.When planting, you need to carefully choose a place and feed the bushes well. Then they will grow quickly, and soon they will decorate the garden not only with attractive greenery, but also with elegant flowers.
