Using Hosta Plants in the Garden, Part 2
I am so pleased with my new garden of beautiful lush hostas.
As many of you know, last fall we relocated all my currants from two beds in front of my main greenhouse to another patch, where they would have more room to flourish. Once this space was empty, I decided to create two more formal garden beds using a geometric design and a simple palette of green and white specimens. My gardeners got to work right away with the first phase of this project - planting a variety of hostas.
Please enjoy these photos.
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- We grouped the hostas by color and moved all the plants selected for these beds to their new location. The soil in these areas was already well rototilled and fertilized last fall when the currants were removed.
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- Ryan placed the hostas where they would be planted. I wanted them positioned in a square grid pattern with a border of hostas lining the entire perimeter. Hostas are very versatile, and while most hostas like shady conditions, newer sun tolerant hostas can withstand morning or, with some varieties, all day sun. I am sure they will do well in this area.
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- Phurba measures the space between each hosta – first from one edge…
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- … and then from the other.
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- And then before planting the next specimen, he measures again – every plant is two-feet from the next.
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- When planting hostas, it is important to dig a hole wide enough to accommodate all the roots of the hosta to be planted without cutting or folding them.
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- Hosta roots usually extend as far or further from the center of the plant as the foliage does. Be sure the roots are not tangled when planted.
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- Hostas do not grow deep into the soil – only about the length of the shovel scoop.
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- Tuck the hosta into the hole so that it sits at the same depth it did in the pot.
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- The edge of the bed was planted with green and yellow varieties and the inner squares with green and white varieties. Garden twine is strung from one side to the other to provide a baseline for measuring.
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- It is important to allow plenty of room to accommodate their mature size. Small varieties spread three times as wide as they are tall. Medium-size varieties spread twice their height, and the larger varieties are at least as wide as they are tall.
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- Here is a wider view of all the plants. If you look closely, they form squares.
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- Gavin works on the other side, measuring and adjusting as he plants each potted specimen.
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- Here is a section planted. The squares are looking very nice.
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- Gavin plants each hosta carefully under the twine. In a formal garden, foliage plants are put into beds and rows, with mirror image planting – each side of a formal garden is an exact mirror copy of the other side – proper placement is crucial.
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- Unlike many perennials, which must be lifted and divided every few years, hostas are happy to grow in place without much interference.
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- After planting, lightly tamp the soil to establish good contact.
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- This day was quite rainy, so here, Gavin rushes to rake around the newly planted hostas so the beds are level and tidy.
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- Once established, hostas will tolerate occasional dry soil, but they will not survive long periods of drought unless regularly watered – they prefer moist, well-drained soil.
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- Here is one side all finished. In summer, blooms on long stalks will extend up above the clumping hosta foliage.
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- And here is the other side. These hostas will fill the spaces so nicely once they are fully mature in a couple of years. I also planned some flowering specimens for inside the squares – you will love what I’ve selected. Stay tuned. Do you have any formal gardens? Share your comments with me below.
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