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Hostas-Slugs,Bugs and Stars

© Emily Levitt

The opening of the Far East to the tea trade also opened trade for many other exports, the hosta among them. 17th century European gardeners enjoyed these plant introductions as new exotics. They proved to be easy to propagte, and their ablilty to compelement other plantings quickly made them favorites. They remain widely used in modern Euorpe, today.

Hostas are native to Korea, Japan,and China, but have been a pleasure for gardeners on the Continent and in this country since their introduction.

I grew up hearing hostas called plantain lilies. No plantains ever appeared, and I was confounded by this apparent abberation.( My family will tell you that I continue to live in the State of Confusion , but that's just because they don't understand why I spend big bucks on a plant THEY think looks like lettuce.) Plantains are small trees, which produce are a banana-like fruit. Hostas are unrelated to them. If I find some fun research facts on this misnomer, I'll fill you in.

Hostas are delightful ground cover for 99% of the United States. They seem to thrive under adverse conditions. I was always told their feelings are hurt if you are too nice to them , and that they don't need to be fertilized. WRONG!! Yet another old garden myth bites the dirt! Hostas like a light organic mulch in spring, as they emerge, and in the fall before they become dormant. This encourages root srpread, and that means bigger clumps, faster. This is pariticularly good to know for the high priced spread...

They resent standing in water, which defines most of the missing 1% in the previously mentioned 99%. Once hostas get deeply wet feet, they develop crown rot, and draw hordes of their Number One Enemy---SLUGS. Snails. Slimy Leaf Eaters.

I swear, I have the amorphous Mother/Father of All Slugs hiding somewhere in my garden. I just can't get rid of the litle mucous makers. (The fact that my garden is their perfect natural habitat could also have something to do with their persistent presence.) I have tried everything from copper strips to ground glass to keep them at bay, with almost no loss in the pest popuation. Even the ultra-expensive diatoamceous earth so beloved by many pest managemnt purists dosen't deter the slippery buggers. I won't use slug bait-- there are too many four legged pets and kids who will eat darn near anything around for me to feel safe with poison lying around on the ground.

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