Hostas care.

by Rosalene
(Windsor, Ontario)

I have a beautiful hostas with green center leaves and white edging. It is approximately 3 years old and is quite large. My problem is that it grows a ground level so when I attempt any gardening in the area I am concerned about damaging it. Is there anyway to prune the undergrowth? I don't want to kill the plant for I love it. I would just like to have some more height and just a little of room at its base. I look forward to your reply! Thanking you in advance for any advice.

Doug says it sounds as if you have one of the low-growing forms. When it comes to hosta care, what you're asking is in the genetics of the plant (there are taller vase-shaped forms too). So the quick answer is that you can weed around the plant to the edge of the foliage but not underneath the foliage (or you'll wreck roots).

Plant something next to the hosta so you can't see the spaces underneath it. :-)

And no, we generally don't prune off the lower leaves of hosta to give more space underneath them. Plant something there instead.