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HOSTA CARE
Hostas have shallow roots so you should be careful if cultivating around them.Hostas, native to Japan and China, are grown primarily for the multi-patterned, multi-colored leaves. One of its common names, plantain lily, harkens back to that common weed that grows in lawns and meadows. Common plantain with its heart shaped leaf and stack of tight green flowers is long way from the hosta we grow in our gardens. Though known for its leaves, many hostas can make a respectable flower display indeed. Colors run from white through light lilacs to lavender with the addition of a sweet fragrance in some.
Where to Grow
Hosta grow best in a shady area out of direct sun. Most do alright with a few hours of morning sun dappled light. Obviously hosta will grow in direct sun - I’m sure you have seen some out in someone’s front yard - but the lushness that develops when grown under the right conditions tells the story. In addition to shade, hosta like a rich, moist - but well drained - soil.
Planting
Let’s repeat the mantra - prepare the soil well before planting (repeat as often as needed). Hosta also like a slightly acid soil and by adding peat moss or compost you’ll take care of both of these needs. Work the soil as deep as you can and add any rock minerals (phosphates, potash, bone meal, etc) needed based on your soil test. After you’ve developed a loom that’s a pleasure just to touch and smell, dig a hole about twice as big as your roots and set the plant at the same depth as it was in the container. If you're planting bareroot stock the point form where the buds will emerge should be an inch or two below grade. You can backfill the hole with more compost (avoid manures here) or a mix of peat and soil. Give it a good soaking. A couple inches of mulch will help keep the ground moist.
Maintenance
During dry spells, give your hostas some extra water but make sure the soil has a chance to dry out between watering. Under normal conditions, hosta need very little care beyond a renewed layer of mulch. The addition of a balanced fertilizer in early summer will encourage new leaf growth and bring out the best of their potential beauty. You can also remove the spent flower stalks which interrupts seed production and sends more energy to the roots. However, letting them go to seed could lead to some interesting seedling in your garden.
If you feel the need to divide your plants it is pretty easy, assuming they are not real large - in which case they might be tough to get out of the ground. But, once out of the ground, just pry them apart or, if necessary, cut them apart with a large knife. This is can be done in either fall or early spring before any growth appears. Hostas improve greatly with age and often don't show their true form for 4 to 5 years and, if divided before that, they start the maturing process over again.