Hostas gallop into action against the foe

AS the straggling and wilting foliage of early bulbs lies in an untidy spread, Hostas come to the rescue

AS the straggling and wilting foliage of early bulbs lies in an untidy spread, Hostas come to the rescue. Like the cavalry in old Western films they appear at an opportune moment, banishing the enemy and restoring a semblance of order. The long snouts of the hostas push up through the tired leafy debris at just the moment when the glory of aconites, snowdrops and early daffodils has been forgotten and a", slight terror begins to take hold, on contemplating the mess left" behind.

In late April the fresh hosta leaves begin to make a show this year they were later than usual, but the temporary annoyance has passed and we are set for, a rippling summer, with a dense, sea of elegant foliage making a, dramatic ground cover suppressing every sign of the dying bulb leaves as well as effectively controlling weeds. Annual weeds and new seedlings just can not cope with the mass of hostas standing shoulder to shoulder like a packed audience.

Hostas are easy in most soils. Light sandy places will need enriching with humus to make conditions more agreeable. These are not plants for sunny Mediterranean conditions, but they will thrive in an ordinary garden soil. Originally from Japan and Korea, with countless hybrids raised especially in America, gardeners sometimes regard them as suitable plants for shady and damp situations. They are more versatile than that, and where soil is retentive i.e. a heavy clay they will flourish in full sun or on a dry bank.

Beloved of flower arrangers, and it is easy to see why, they offer an array of greens varying from dark and glossy to pale yellow and tones of glaucous blue. Every hue in between is catered for and every variation on the variegated theme is there too. For those with acres to cover there are host as which reach over three feet high in a broad leaf mound. At the other end of the scale there are dainty miniatures which can grace a small alpine garden or a trough. They have flowers in lilac, violet or white and some can be scented, but it is the foliage which makes them such desirable garden plants.

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Their uses are many, apart from acting as a most agreeable camouflage for dying daffodil leaves. In a flower border where the average herbaceous foliage is generally nondescript and ignored, an occasional hosta clump will add substance as well as a degree of calm. Planted with ferns, a delightful contrast will be created with the minimum of effort. The base of a shady depressing north facing wall could be an ideal home for such a combination.

To get the best effect, even in a small garden I would suggest putting three young plants close together to make a decent show. That way they will make their presence felt. In larger spaces, bigger groups of five or even seven plants should be considered. The collector as usual we want to have five or seven different varieties, but that will not do in a small clump and the designer's eye will see an infinitely more satisfying composition where clumps are confined to using the same plant.

Problems await those with sluggy gardens. One can throw slug killer around in every possible direction. However, I would not follow that course. I see nob advantage or no pleasure in inflicting death on other creatures which might come in contact with, the slug killer. If slugs are a serious problem it would be more sensible to avoid hostas altogether. There is, after all, no shortage of other plants to try.

My own solution to the problem of slugs is to encourage an abundant bird population and to give the slugs lots of juicy tender ligularias to feast on. They love them and I do not get over upset at having lacy ligularias. We can all turn a blind eye to the things we do not wish to see, and if the host as stay reasonably slug free then I can ignore the ligularias.

While the hostas can be happy to build up a dense thick root over several years they will need, occasional dividing. I take the lazy way and divide as they are coming into leaf in April and, May. That way I can clearly see what I am about and the plants don't seem to mind, provided they are well watered afterwards.