Hosta care after blooming 

Hostas are one of the most popular perennials in many home gardens. Their attractive leaf patterns  add rich texture and elegance to the garden. They are also low maintenance and easy to care for. This makes them perfect for beginner gardeners. 

This time of year, many of the flowers in your garden are getting ready to go into winter dormancy. And, hostas are no exception. You might be asking yourself what care do hostas need after blooming? 

If you have hostas that are starting to die back and don’t know what to do to care for them, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s guide, we will walk you through what to watch for and how to care for hostas after blooming. We will also teach you how to cut back your hostas using three different techniques. So, if you’re ready to get your hostas in tip top shape for next season, grab your tools and let’s dig in!

Benefits of hostas in the garden landscape

If you have a busy lifestyle or are just starting out with perennials, hostas are a great option. Hosta plants are low growing and very easy to maintain. They can be used in mixed perennial garden borders; as a standalone plant, or to frame in a garden landscape. Hostas also come in so many different varieties. They have long lasting blooms and beautiful foliage.

Blooming cycle of hostas

Hostas are often one of the first perennials to emerge in the garden in early spring to summer. Their blooming cycle will depend on the growing conditions and zone they are planted in. Shoots will begin to pop out of the ground first. These shoots burst into colourful decorative leaves. 

Hostas will continue to put on growth throughout the spring. As they put on growth, you can apply a good quality garden fertilizer to help stimulate growth. In late spring to early summer, hostas begin to send up their flower stalks. These flowers attract pollinators of every sort as well as hummingbirds. Once blooming, the blooms last several weeks giving you much needed colour in the garden. 

As the flowers die back, hostas will produce seed heads and pods. Many gardeners prefer to remove these to help stimulate growth next season. 

Getting hostas ready for winter: Some basic care tips

Hostas prepare for their winter dormancy period in the fall. This is the time when growth starts to slow down. The leaves will become yellow and start to die back. This signals that the plant is beginning to store the energy it needs to re-emerge next season. 

Here are a few helpful tips to help your hostas as they prepare for winter: 

Deadheading: Once the flowers have faded, you can cut the flower stalks back to the base. Doing this will help the plant preserve energy rather than focus on producing seeds. 

Watering: Continue to water your hosta up until your first hard frost, especially during dry spells. Hostas need consistent moisture, but avoid overwatering. 

Fertilizing: Late summer is the time when you can apply a late season fertilizer. This will help your hostas to stay healthy and strong. It will also help them prepare for winter. 

Mulching: Mulching around your hostas will help to suppress weeds. It will also help to protect your plants over winter by regulating the soil temperature. Avoid mulching over the crown of the hosta. 

Dividing: Sometimes hostas can grow quite large and outgrow the space they are planted in. Late summer to early fall is a great time to start dividing hostas. You can also divide in the spring, but must be careful not to damage the crown. Dividing your hostas helps to rejuvenate them and give new life to your plants. 

Cleaning up: Before winter sets in, help your hostas by trimming back any damaged or diseased leaves. This will help to cut down on pests and the spread of any fungal diseases.

When and how to cut back hostas

Another very important winter care tip is cutting back your hostas. There are three different times of the year when gardeners like to do this chore. You have the option of Spring, Summer, or Fall. It largely depends on personal preference. Hostas are a very forgiving perennial. Even if you forget to prune them back or think you’ve taken off too much, they will still rebound back. 

To help you decide which time is best for you, we will list the pros and cons of cutting back hostas in each season. 

Cutting back hostas in the fall

Pruning hostas in the fall is one of the more common and preferred times. The best time to do so is when the leaves have started to die back after the first hard frost of the year. Avoid pruning too early before the first hard frost. Hostas store important nutrients in their leaves like carbohydrates. They need these nutrients to help fuel next season’s growth. The nutrients must travel down the stalk and into the crown in order to fuel this growth. 

Avoid cutting your hostas down in late summer. You want to wait until the night time temperatures begin to drop. This is when hostas start storing the carbohydrates they need to begin growing again next season. Wait until the leaves have turned completely yellow to brown. That’s when you know they are ready to be pruned back. 

Why You Might Prune Hostas in Fall

You do not have to prune your hostas in the fall, but there are two cases where pruning at this time might make the most sense: 

1. Appearance of diseased leaves: If at the end of the season your hosta plant seems to be under attack from powdery mildew or another disease, it is best to prune this away. After the first hard frost, prune back any diseased stems, leaves or flower stalks. Place these in the garbage rather than a compost pile. You want to avoid the spread of fungal spores. 
2. Cut down on weeds: If weeds have taken over part of your perennial garden, pruning back your hostas will help. Weeds can often pop up in the middle of hostas around the leaves. When hostas have started to die back, pruning back the leaves can make it easier to reach in and remove weeds. You want to avoid the weeds setting down new seeds. To also help cut down on weeds, try adding a layer of mulch. Be sure not to cover the crown of the hosta.

Cutting back hostas in the spring

Some gardeners like the added protection that the old leaves of hostas provide over winter. Instead of pruning them back in the fall, most will keep the leaves in place and let them die back naturally. When spring arrives, the leaves will be fully shriveled up and brown. 

Some gardeners prefer to remove the old dead leaves in the spring. The leaves will be so aged from staying on all winter that they will fall off quite easily when pulled with your hands. You can also use a rake if you like. Make sure that you complete these tasks before the new shoots appear in the spring. You want to avoid damaging the new growth. 

Another benefit of leaving the leaves on over winter and trimming back in the spring is that the dead leaves provide shelter for different pollinators. These friends of the garden will welcome the little sanctuaries you create. You can read more about ways to help the pollinator population in our blog post on how to plant a pollinator garden. 

Cutting back hostas in the summer

The summer is not the time to heavily prune back your hostas. This time of year is for maintenance pruning. You can prune back spent blooms. You can also remove any damaged or browned leaves. Summer is also the time to prune back any damaged leaves from deer, rabbit, slugs, snails and other common garden pests. To prune back pest damage, try to maintain as much of the plant foliage as possible. Only trim out any damaged leaves or stalks. 

Frequently asked questions about hosta care after blooming

Should you cut back wilted leaves on hostas? 

Wilted leaves are often a sign of stress to the plant. Before pruning, determine if the wilting is from a lack of water or too much sun exposure. Adjust the conditions first to determine if the cause of wilting is environmental. Remember that hostas are a shade plant and often thrive in part-shade to full shade conditions. 

When should you divide or transplant hostas? 

The best time to split, divide and transplant your hostas is in spring or early fall. In spring, wait until the shoots have sprouted out of the ground to a suitable size. You want to avoid disturbing or destroying the crown. Make sure that you dig up all around the roots before removing the plant from the ground. Try to get as much of the root ball as possible. This will help to cut down on the effects of transplant shock. 

What are the best tools to use to cut back and transplant hostas? 

To cut back hostas, have a good pair of pruning shears. This will help you to remove any diseased or damaged leaves and clean up the flower stalks. You will also need a pair of gardening gloves and a decent gardening spade. 

Final thoughts on hosta after blooming care

Hostas are the workhorse of many perennial gardens. They help to create garden borders. They also fill in the landscape and showcase other perennial flowers. Knowing how to care for them after they have bloomed is an important part of keeping them healthy and strong. Have a favourite variety of hosta in your garden that you love to grow? Drop a comment below and help your fellow gardeners plan their own hosta backyard oasis. 

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