Although hosta is a shade loving plant, if it's too dark hostas will probably grow and survive, but not flourish. Ideally, hostas prefer a dappled shade. While some hostas are sun tolerant, if there is not enough shade it may effect leaf color.

Yes - moles, voles, slugs and deer. There are solutions. Use bait traps for moles and voles and commercial products such as slug bait (comes organic) or dishes of beer for slugs. Plant hostas close to the house, near a lighted area or mix hosta with other plants for a deer problem. You can also get an electric fence.

Hostas will go dormant each late fall season (die to the ground). Don't forget to keep them moist in the winter - they get thirsty then too. In late February or March, you will see new leaves emerge, when this occurs, add a high-nitrogen fertilizer and water in thoroughly, making sure the fertilizer does not stick on the new foliage. Watch out for snails - they love the tender new growth of the Hostas.

More or less, this varies per area. Not all the trees have fully gronwn and we have tried to give you a new exotic impression.

Preferring a well-drained location, hostas do best in shade or semi-shade. As a general rule, the gold and yellow colored varieties get their best coloring when given slightly more sun.

Many Hybrid Musks and some Albas can tolerate partial shade. A few other varieties including the Floribunda "Gruss An Aachen" can be planted in partial shade. Some other roses that may grow in partial shade are the Rugosas, Iceberg(FB), Zephirine Drouhin (Bourbon), Souvenir du Docteur Jamain(HP) and Madame Plantier.

With a top-down shade, when the shade is open, the fabric stacks at the bottom of the window opening rather than at the top. A partially open top-down shade allows light through the upper part of the window. This style is popular in situations where privacy is an issue.

With a top-down/bottom-up shade, the shade cloth can stack (fold up) either at the top as standard shades do, at the bottom as top-down shades do, or at any point in between. This is a very versatile design. We highly recommend a valance to cover the lifting system hardware. However, a valance may not be necessary if the shade is being mounted behind a soffit or other architectural structure.

Hostas and so many other plants are loved by slugs who eat lots of holes through the leaves of the plants at night. Try not to water in the evenings because the extra moisture brings the slugs out. Also, you can use a store bought slug bait or pour some beer out into a dish or pan to help get rid of them. Powdery mildew is fairly common and seems to affect honeysuckle. To get rid of it, you’ll need to strip the vine of all leaves. Even pruning it back is helpful.

Almost all hostas are very easy for beginners to grow. There are many different color variations and sizes that are readily available at most local nurseries and on-line vendors. For someone just starting out, the recommendation is mostly medium

A - Try cultural controls first: Cut down tall weeds and grasses, clean up plant debris, and remove rocks, boards, and other shelters. Encourage predators such as birds, garter snakes, frogs, ducks, and predacious ground beetles. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides that kill beneficial insects. Hand-pick and kill slugs. Slug control products with iron phosphate as the active ingredient have proven to be effective and safe for the environment.

Hostas prefer a moist, light, humus-based acid soil. The soil should be rich in organic matter and it can be any form: peat moss, compost, rotted or composted manure, rotted sawdust, or composted leaves. By Adding large quantities of organic matter, it improves the moisture retention of the soil, the aeration of the soil, loosens the soils for easy root penetration, and improves the microbial life in the soil, and its general fertility.

Each variety of Hosta has a different light requirement, so you can plant them in almost any light situation. Blue hostas prefer more shade while gold hostas tolerate sun quite well. As a general rule, the gold and yellow colored varieties get their best coloring when given slightly more sun.

Hostas need room to grow and mature. They need a minimum of two seasons in one location to mature and show their adult potential. When planting, space the small-leaved hosta between 18" to 24" apart; the large-leaved hostas should be spaced 24" to 30" apart.

Hostas are hardy in Zones 3 through 10. Plants tend to grow larger and produce more intense, bluer and greener coloration in colder climates.

It is best to test your soil first to see what nutrient needs are deficient in your soil. A fertilizer that is high in nitrogen will be beneficial, giving greater grandeur to the foliage. The first application of fertilizer should be early spring, just as the Hostas are emerging from their winter dormancy. At this time they require larger amounts of nitrogen as their foliage is expanding. A 20-20-20, or 20-10-10 formula is best early in the spring.

Hostas are virtually disease-free, and the major pests are slugs and snails. They chew holes in the hosta leaves and make them unsightly. The slugs leave slime trails or shiny squiggly lines along the soil and they are most active at night and on cloudy days. One method to control these creatures is to pick them off by hand and drop them in soapy water. Not any fun to say the least; too goody and icky. They like to hide on the undersides of the leaves.