By using this product you will
fertilize with each watering as the
fertilizer is designed to release
nutrients every time it comes in
contact with water.
A common misconception is
that hostas are exclusively shade
plants, when in fact most hostas
will do best when planted in a
location that is only one-third
shade during the day. However,
they will certainly tolerate
growing even in deep shade.
The one thing they do
not tolerate well is direct
sunlight.
With thousands of varieties
of hostas available, they are a
gardener’s dream. You can fi nd
just about any colour, form, and
size that you need for a particular
application. A few examples
are hostas with leaves that are
heart-shaped, oval, lance-shaped,
and cup-shaped. The leaf colour
can range from green to blue to
chartreuse and gold. Many are
bi-coloured with gold, yellow, or
white edged leaves. While hostas
are mainly grown for their foliage,
they do have blooms. The lily-like
fl owers are borne in spikes, with
colours ranging from lavender to
white, and can be very showy.
Overwintering the plants, if
grown in
colours and forms of hostas,
containers, can be a bit of a
with diff erent colours of pots
challenge. Adding some type of
and containers. Hostas and
insulation is critical for the
a shady balcony, deck,
plant to survive the
or any garden bed
winter. Perhaps the
make the perfect
most convenient
Hostas are
combination.
method is
one of those
The colour and
using regular
plants that even
form of these
fi breglass home
those gardeners
lovely plants
insulation. This
with two brown
can transform
is a very eff ective
thumbs
can
grow
any spot devoid
insulator. If
very
well.
of life into a
using this method,
vibrant space that
remember to wrap
is both inviting and
the insulation around
calming. Sometimes change
the bottom of the container
is a good thing. ●
as well as the sides. A minimum
of ten centimetres of fi breglass
Gerald Filipski is a member of
insulation is needed on the sides
the Garden Writers Association
and bottom of the container,
of America. Jerry has been the
but twenty centimetres would
gardening columnist for the
Edmonton Journal for over
be even better. Hostas are rated
thirty years. Jerry has a
to zone 3 in terms of plant
certifi cate in landscape
hardiness. Edmonton is zone 3a
design and in the
so your odds of having the hostas
past co-owned
survive are better than with more
a landscaping
sensitive plants. Calgary is less of
fi rm.
a gamble in zone 4a. Wherever
you are in the province — zone 0a
to 4b, if they don’t survive, most
hostas are relatively inexpensive
and can easily be replaced.
Feel free to experiment
with various
news&views SPRING 2020 | 25