Your Garden: Divide and conquer special care of hostas

Dear Roger: My hostas are dying back, and I would like to have more. How do I divide and transplant them? - Lisa, Fayetteville

Dear Lisa: Divide hostas only when there are at least four or five divisions in the clump.

The best time to do this is fall, after foliage is finished, or early spring, before new leaves appear.

But you can do it anytime, as long as you give good care after the surgery. We just divided about 14 3- to 5-gallon pots containing hostas. Now we have about 30 pots of hostas. They will soon be gorgeous.

I use a knife with a long, sharp, serrated blade. I clear away enough dirt and foliage to see what I'm doing, then I carefully pull away any shoots that can be removed by hand. Often there are none.

I then carefully cut between the divisions to keep as much root as possible with each division.

I usually keep about three divisions together for each new plant. This makes a quick show. A single division looks a little lonely in the landscape.

Replant with the crowns an inch or less below the soil surface and the roots angled down into the soil or growing mix.

I grow all my hostas in pots, because I have numerous voles that consider them tastier than filet mignon.

You probably already know that hostas like a reasonably rich soil high in humus. Organic fertilizers build the strongest clumps. Slow-release, coated fertilizers are the next best choice.

Most hostas require some shade. Some will grow in full sun. I grow 'Guacamole' in nearly full sun and 'Gold Standard' in full sun. The leaves of 'Gold Standard' will bleach almost white in the centers in all-day sun.

Hostas will do best with irrigation. So place them where they can be watered.

Send your questions and photos to roger@mercergarden.com or call Roger at 424-4756.