Preparing hostas for winter: leaving in the fall, pruning time and whether you need to feed

The hosta flower is often used to decorate the garden and acts as an element of landscape design. The plant is a perennial, so it's important to know how to properly winterize your hosta.

Description and features

In order for the flower to continue its development with the onset of spring, preparations for cold weather should begin in the fall. The standard preparation process is to follow the rules of agricultural technology and use covering material. It is also important to choose the right period for the preparatory activities.

Regional features and timing

The timing of preparing the hosts for wintering directly depends on the surrounding climatic conditions. When preparing, you need to take into account the characteristics of the region of growth.

Medium lane

In the conditions of flower growth in the middle zone, including the Moscow region, shelter for the winter is a must. To protect the plant, it will be enough to cover the root area with a layer of mulch, which is used as tree bark, compost, or peat mixed with grass. Optimal preparation time: end of September - early October.

Volga region

In the Volga region, a flower can tolerate frosts without much shelter. When growing a plant in this area, it is enough to sprinkle spruce branches or snow. During a frosty winter, you can mulch the root area with a dense layer of peat mixed with sawdust. Covering work can be carried out in early October.

Ural and Siberia

The climate of the Urals and Siberia is characterized by frosty winters and extremely low temperatures. Hosta retains the ability to continue development if hibernated under dense mulch. Plant shelter dates in the Urals and Siberia - the whole of September.

South of Russia

The plants grown in the southern regions of the country need minimal shelter. You can start preparing for the winter period at the end of October - the first half of November.

Leningrad Region

Mild and warm winters are typical for the Leningrad region, so you don't need to cover the host with special materials. Sufficient protection is provided by mulching the root area. It is necessary to equip a layer of mulch during the second half of October.

How to prepare for wintering

The process of preparing hostas for cold weather can be divided into several stages. The correct implementation of all stages is the key to a favorable wintering of the plant.

Removing buds that have faded

Caring for the host begins with the removal of old buds. Flowering begins towards the end of August, and during the autumn some of the buds fade. To keep the plant nourished for the winter, you need to remove unnecessary elements in advance. To perform the procedure, you should prepare a pruner or garden shears, which will allow you to carefully cut the buds.

Plentiful watering

Hosta is a moisture-loving plant, so care must be taken to maintain active growth. In autumn, it is necessary to moisten the soil abundantly to a depth of 0.5 m, trying not to fall on the leaves. Reduce water consumption and watering frequency as the ambient temperature drops.

Feeding

The first portion of fertilizer after planting and adapting to new conditions is applied at the beginning of the summer period, which contributes to the growth of foliage. In preparation for winter, you need to feed the plant in early autumn or late August. To keep the hosta in good condition, it is recommended to use formulations containing potassium and phosphorus. These components are absorbed by the roots and provide nutrition during subsequent flowering.

Mulching

Having a layer of mulch helps keep the plant warm enough. On the root area, the hosts spread the organic mass, which is suitable as:

peat;
sawdust;
dry grass.

Beginning to prepare the mulch, it should be treated with insecticidal preparations that provide protection against pests. The accumulation of parasites in organic matter can lead to plant damage and the development of infections.

Autumn pruning

Part of the preparatory process is pruning the plant in anticipation of winter. Pruning is needed to eliminate excess foliage, where pests that eat the plant settle.

Do I need

Pruning the hosta is a prerequisite for preparation. If leaves are left on the plant, they will eventually turn into a slimy mass and attract parasites.

Timing

Start pruning when yellow leaves fall. At this point, nutrition with mineral components goes to the lower part of the plant. It is allowed to combine hosta formation with protective processing.

How to cut properly

Excess leaves on the host must be carefully cut with scissors or secateurs. It is not recommended to pluck the foliage with your hands, as you can accidentally damage the plant.

Protection from pests and diseases

Protective treatment is required to keep the host free from diseases and harmful insects. Fungicides are sprayed against diseases, and insecticides are used to repel parasites.

Shelter

Organic mulch is used as the main cover, and special material provides additional protection. It is better to cover the host in warm calm weather, when the soil is in a dried state. First, the plant must be mulched, and then covered with material from above. Stones are placed along the perimeter on top of the shelter to fix the material and close the access for rodents.

Typical mistakes

Inexperienced gardeners often make mistakes when preparing hostas for frost. To properly complete the process, you should familiarize yourself with common violations.

Nitrogen supplements

The introduction of nitrogen fertilizing before the onset of the winter period leads to the active growth of the flower. Intensive set of leaf mass causes an outflow of nutrients needed by the plant during the winter.

No mulching

The lower part of the foliage on the host dries up during autumn and forms a natural protective layer. Many gardeners believe that this layer will be enough to protect the plant, but in severe frosts, the roots do not have enough additional heat.

Use of special shelter materials

You can not use polyethylene film and roofing material for shelter, because condensation forms under them, and moisture will provoke rotting and the appearance of fungus. The most suitable hosta shelter materials are:

burlap;
agrofiber;
spunbond.

Drying the soil

Even in winter, the roots of the plant need the presence of moisture. The soil in an overdried state does not give the flower the right nutrition, and the quality of the roots deteriorates.

Transfer

Transferring a flower to a new place weakens the protective functions, since it takes time to adapt to changing conditions.

It is recommended to transplant the host no later than August.

Greenhouse effect

The cause of the greenhouse effect is the use of inappropriate protective material. Believing that greenhouse conditions will help keep the plant warm, gardeners disrupt the hosta's natural growth process, and it begins to rot. In some cases, the process of decay is not immediately noticeable, since it starts from the roots.

When it rises after winter

When hosta is grown outdoors, the flower sprouts late. Plants wait until stable heat is established and only then resume active growth and development.

Live mulch option

Experienced gardeners know about the possibility of using live mulch. This term refers to cover crops or green manure. Most often, rye, oats, mustard, calendula and phacelia are grown for this purpose. The main requirement is to choose an actively growing species and mow the green mass before flowering. Mowed plants are crushed and left on the root area or buried in the surface layer of soil.

Helpful tips

The basic rules in preparing for winter are basic care and control of hosta flowering. During the winter, the plant is favorably affected by throwing snow - it is raked and a hill is built next to the bushes for additional protection.After the snow melts, you need to remove the old mulch to reduce the risk of damage by pests that overwinter in the organic.