Lawn Guardian

Hosta Care Guide

Hosta spp.

perennialZones 3–9

The quintessential shade plant with bold, textured foliage in shades from chartreuse to deep blue-green. Hundreds of cultivars available in sizes from miniature to giant.

At a glance

Season-by-season care

Spring

Apply slug control As shoots emerge

Put out slug bait (iron phosphate) as new shoots emerge. This is when hostas are most vulnerable to slug damage.

Divide overcrowded clumps Early spring

If clumps are crowded, dig and divide as new eyes are visible in spring. Replant divisions immediately.

Summer

Water during dry spells During dry periods

Water at the base, not overhead, to keep foliage dry and reduce disease.

Fall

Cut back after frost After first hard frost

Remove foliage after it has been killed by frost. This reduces slug habitat for next year.

Never miss a hosta care window again

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

Get your free plan

Related plants

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns