The Hosta ? A Shade Loving Perennial
My first introductions to Hostas were four small green and white clumps edging a small section of my mother- in- laws driveway.
I was not terribly impressed, they looked more like scraggly lettuce plants with a few sticks growing out of the middle plus their size never seemed to change from year to year.
Fast forward a few years, I now had my own home with visions of gorgeous gardens blooming in my head. The property was surrounded by trees, which we loved not only for the privacy but the house was kept quite cool during the hot summer months.
I soon discovered that all that shade may have been good for keeping our home and family cool it wasn't great for growing certain perennials as most I'd looked at all said full sun.
During trips to local nurseries looking for shade loving plants I kept noticing Hostas, thinking "Oh, great spindly lettuce" I went ahead and purchased two plants, I was desperate to plant something along the perimeter of those wonderful trees.
The two green plants with white stripes found a home next to a simple concrete birdbath, one on either side. During the summer I weeded around them, watered and feed them every two weeks but didn't really hold much hope that they would turn into anything special.
The following Spring during winter clean up I noticed small green shoots popping up beside the birdbath but again didn't get to excited. Well, by mid summer those two had tripled in size were very full and looked absolutely beautiful.
I began to rethink my first impression of Hostas and after doing some research discovered there are hundreds ? actually more then 2600- of varieties available. Leaf colors include green, blue, gold and white. The leaves can either be a solid color or variegated with a second color mixed in the center or along the edges.
Several plants in various shades can really dress up a shady corner. By mixing several of the brighter hues along with darker shades can be quite dramatic.
Another way to use Hostas is by mixing them with other shade plants, which can include Perennials such as Astilbe, Bleeding Heart and Japanese Painted Ferns also, Shrubs like Azalea, Hydrangea or Sweet Pepperbush. You're not limited to using shade plants just within wooded areas or around trees. For instance, a partly shaded walk way along side your home would make a perfect candidate for this combination, plant the shrubs or tall perennials along the back next to the house with the Hostas placed in front can look quite stunning.
A large shade tree in our front yard looked like a good candidate for dressing up and because of the success of the birdbath Hostas of course I decided to try more around the tree. Using a tiller we formed a circle around the base and mixed good topsoil into the existing dirt, edged the circle with bricks, all that was need now were the plants.
I spent several days' scouring local nurseries looking for Hostas in different colors and leaf textures. Armed with six new plants of moderate size ? I'm one of those impatient gardeners ? I staggered them around the tree, put down a thick layer of cedar mulch then for decorative accent added several groups of unusual looking rocks found in the woods, a family of resin squirrels also found a home sitting around the plants.
It really looked great and I just knew by the following year with regular watering and feeding those six plants would be larger, fuller and gorgeous.
Several days later while doing my daily walk around to look for anything new, I noticed something strange around the tree in the front yard. Getting closer things really looked funny.
It took a moment to realize there were no longer leafy plants growing there, just a bunch of green stems. This was how I learned that Hostas happen to be a favorite before dinner snack for deer.
Therefore my advice is if you live in an area populated with those brown eyed beauties and your going to give Hosta growing a go make sure to spray them with a safe repellant periodically from their emergence in the spring until the first frost in the fall.
So for those shady areas think about planting Hostas, after all they are a whole lot more than scraggly looking lettuce.
This is a share ware article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2005 bonnie carrier.
Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating & Savvy Outdoor Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Stop by for information and ideas for both inside and outside your home.
http://www.savvy-home-decorating.com
http://www.savvyoutdoordecorating.com
 Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:50:27 GMT In Florida, Palin keeps up attacks on Obama - Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sarah Palin portrayed Barack Obama as a dishonest politician and a risky choice for president Tuesday as she wrapped up a two-day campaign swing through Florida. Sarah Palin, Freed? McCain, Obama and a 'friendly' town hall Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:39:26 GMT Absentee balloting began Tuesday - Las Cruces Sun-News
Las Cruces Sun-News - By SUE MAJOR HOLMES AP Writer ALBUQUERQUE, NM—It was only mid-morning on the first day of absentee voting, but 200 people had already shown up to cast their ballots at the clerk's office in Bernalillo County, New Mexico's most populous. Muncie takes advantage of early voting Voter numbers growing as deadline nears Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:16:38 GMT British government unveils massive financial rescue plan - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - LONDON - The British government Wednesday unveiled a massive rescue plan for its ailing banking system after days of unrelenting bad news for the financial industry here. British government to partially nationalize banks Rescue plan for UK banks unveiled Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:01:33 GMT Nepal Plane Crashes, Killing Mostly German Tourists (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Jay Shankar Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- A passenger plane belonging to Yeti Airlines, a private carrier, crashed near Mount Everest in Nepal killing 18 people, including 12 German tourists, an aviation official said. Everest plane crash kills 18 in Nepal, mostly German Official: Plane crash in Nepal kills 18 Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:23:22 GMT Harford County Council tries for leaner budget - Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun - By Mary Gail Hare Harford County Executive David R. Craig met with the County Council last night and painted a bleak revenue outlook that will dominate the remainder of the fiscal year and continue well into the next. Sims wants pay freeze to balance King County budget Sims announces layoffs, wage freezes for county employees Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:27:45 GMT Australian jet plunge probe opens - BBC News
BBC News - A computer glitch may have caused a Qantas jet to plunge suddenly mid-flight, an Australian air safety investigator has said. The incident injured 40 passengers, in a terrifying airborne drama. Qantas plane had glitch before altitude plunge Computer glitch may have caused Qantas plunge: investigator Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:39:47 GMT Obama connected with audience - Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun - By David Zurawik z on tv david.zurawik@baltsun.com The format of the second presidential debate was described as that of a town hall meeting, but it was pure TV from the "citizens" seated on risers on a brightly lit stage, to the candidates moving ... Candidates arguments are as familiar as their mistakes Cool Hand Barack Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:28:41 GMT Increase Search Engine Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Building your own water works system is quite simple and... Read More 1. Always read the instruction manual before operating your lawnmower.... Read More If you are like most of us, there are two... Read More Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this... Read More Slugs are one of the most hated of garden pests.... Read More Do you ever worry about always having to rely on... Read More Miniature roses are exactly what they sound like. They have... Read More Pruning...Outdoor gardening is so much easier when you know how.... Read More The important question of whether or not to add salt... Read More It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so... Read More When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select... Read More HID lamps are categorized in three groups :Mercury Vapor ,... Read More The fresh air of the early spring solstice and the... Read More If you are a serious gardener, you spend lots of... Read More Your dozen rose gift doesn't only have to decorate your... Read More There are more reasons than ever why anybody with access... Read More Every spring some mysterious hormone hits the male of the... Read More Most people would think of fall as a season when... Read More Shrubbery and other greenery that has an unkempt appearance can... Read More When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your... Read More Imagine starting your morning with a saunter out the back... Read More More and more people are enjoying their time spent outdoors... Read More In years past, serious rosarians would never consider having a... Read More It is important when you start to plan a garden,... Read More There are many reasons for creating an indoor garden ?... Read More
Adsense
websites
Homemade Hydroponics System Plan
16 Lawn Mower Safety Tips
A Storage Bench Provides Much Needed Outdoor Space
Early Spring Garden Guide: What To Do In The Yard And Garden Now
How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails
Gardening During Hard Times or Emergencies - You Can Feed Yourself!
What You Should Know About Miniature Roses
A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening
To Salt or Not to Salt Your Pond
Hummingbirds ? Attracting Those Little Flying Powerhouses
Plant Hardiness Zones
High Intensity Discharge Grow Light (Generic)
Agio Patio Furniture
Mosquitoes in Your Garden? Try Planting These
22 Fun Things To Do With Your Dozen Rose Gift
Grow Organic Vegetables
Dont Roll that Lawn
A Look at Fall Flower Bulbs
Selling Your House? Trim Your Shrubs!
Fountains of Refreshment
Garden Hot Tubs
Create and Furnish Your Outdoor Room
Planting Roses in Pots
Planning a Vegetable Garden
The Indoor Garden: Plants that Clean the Air
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Bedding Plants and Plugs (small plants)
It is not difficult to grow bedding plants from seeds,... Read More
Wooden Greenhouses
An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse... Read More
Get your Garden Cooking with Friable Soil
Oh sure, fried green tomatoes are ok; but I'll take... Read More
Composting and Composters: A Basic Introduction
Why Compost?Recent studies show that an average family throws away... Read More
Blue Wild Flowers for Your Garden
Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More
How to Control Deer in Your Garden
Deer are the most difficult of all pests to deter... Read More
Landscape Wallpaper
Landscape wallpaper can be a great addition to your computer's... Read More
Growing Your Own Herbs for Tea
If you love herbal teas, as I do, you know... Read More
What You Should Know About Miniature Roses
Miniature roses are exactly what they sound like. They have... Read More
Easy Care Of Phalaenopsis
Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most... Read More
Gardening - Natural Science NOT Rocket Science
Don't force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in... Read More
The Difference Between Large and Small Ponds
If you think that a large pond is simply a... Read More
Cast Aluminum Furniture
In days gone by, outdoor furniture was cast from iron.... Read More
The Container Vegetable Garden
If you live in an apartment or town home, you... Read More
Catch a Leprechaun in Your Garden
There is no mention to be found of female leprechauns... Read More
Lady Bugs Are Your #1 Natural Pest Control
First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names... Read More
Best Perennial Plants for Summer Color
Summer is here and it's time to plant and enjoy... Read More
How to Grow Chocolate Cosmos
Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguinea) is both nose and eye candy... Read More
Winter Gardening Looking Towards Spring
Ok, the title "winter gardening" might be a tad bit... Read More
Using Annuals in Your Perrenial Garden
Annuals in your pernnial garden are something to think about!... Read More
Hummingbird Nesting Facts
Every spring the United States and Canada are blessed with... Read More
Black Walnut Trees Produce A Natural Insecticide
The black walnut tree manufactures a substance that is a... Read More
A Couple of Good Places to Buy Lawnmowers
After much searching and deliberation, I finally bought a lawnmower... Read More
Hot-Weather Fish Feeding Facts
Summertime provides the best time of the year to water... Read More
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 5) Plant Growth
PLANT GROWTH & PHYSIOLOGY. (Part 5)There are three classes of... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |