You may not want to help me with this...

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 9:27 am

Are there any hostas that people would recommend as being able to grow in unfavorable soil? I have an area on the northeast side of my garage that gets morning sun, is on a slight slope but which has soil with a lot of peasized gravel mixed in. I can only amend it so far and would need to plant the hostas on either side of a roof drip line (the roof slants down here). Drainage is good. What I need are vigorous growers who are not too fussy. Yes, I know; maybe I should plant something else or just leave it to lawn/weeds as it is now. But I think it could be nice if the right hostas are out there.

largosmom · Post by **largosmom** » Jul 07, 2007 9:44 am

I think hostas would like it there just fine. I know of a gentleman on another forum who grows his in very rocky soil and feels it just allows him to water and fertilize well enough to grow them to giant size without worries of too much water due to the excellent drainage. Why not try a few and see?

If they are on a slope where the petioles are easily seen, I would pick hostas with vase shapes and some ground cover sizes to emphasize them.

Laura

Post by **Chris_W** » Jul 07, 2007 10:27 am

Hi,

Some of the vigorous, older plants might do fine there. Gold Standard, August Moon, Undulata Albomarginata, Abiqua Moonbeam, Hyacinthina, Royal Standard, Honeybells... They may not grow as big as if they were babied but could still look pretty good.

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 10:53 am

Thanks. It's not much of a slope, Laura but I like the idea of the vase shapes and ground covers and may do that for the center of the bed.
Chris, none of the hostas you mentioned are available on your site!

I do have a Royal Standard and an August Moon that I can perhaps move there and can replace them with other things in their original settings...

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 2:24 pm

Here is a photo of the site: clickable

The area along the garage has a slight slope and morning sun. There isn't a lot of traffic into our backyard but there is some.
Hopefully, hostas will improve the area.

Wild Dog · Post by **Wild Dog** » Jul 07, 2007 3:58 pm

How much trouble are you willing to go to grow hosta really really well in this spot?

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 4:43 pm

Not a lot

I will perhaps add some peatmoss to the area but don't want to do a lot of digging here.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jul 07, 2007 6:25 pm

Got a tiller?

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 8:59 pm

No, I don't. I'm not sure this is an item I want to borrow but I'll ask around.

thy · Post by **thy** » Jul 07, 2007 9:08 pm

Living on pure clay I moved some to my sons house ... sandy gravel soil .. and they do better than mine for one exeption.. Kiwi Full Monthy had a hard ime to adjust, but after 3 years it is starting to show off

Just plant what you want, mix in some compost and alfalfa if you can ... they will be fine

John · Post by **John** » Jul 07, 2007 9:35 pm

I'm not sure the site is all that challenging... I'd try any hostas you'd like. Amending the soil a bit with some peat moss as above is a good suggestion; any compost or organic material will surely help. Once the hostas are established, they'll do fine. I think you will have a FINE garden in that location; looking forward to the 'after' photos.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jul 07, 2007 9:42 pm

VThosta/daylilylover wrote:No, I don't. I'm not sure this is an item I want to borrow but I'll ask around.

Frequently you can rent tillers for around $40 for a couple/3 hours...but you could hand dig it, and it would probably take less time than going to get a tiller and returning it.

jaye · Post by **jaye** » Jul 07, 2007 10:24 pm

If it's the same type of soil the daylilies are in, most hostas should do well.
I find that using a bulb auger on a power drill is an effective way to mix supplements into the top 10 inches or so of hard-packed gravelly soil. They cost about $25, are about 2 feet long & make a 6 inch diameter hole. You kind of get it stuck in the ground & pull it out to mix the dirt. A reverse switch on the drill helps if it is too stuck to pull. If peat moss isn't thoroughly mixed, it soaks up water keeping it away from the plant's roots. Mixing in several bags of topsoil may be a better choice. Water from the roof will rinse off any top dressing/mulch you try. Have fun!

largosmom · Post by **largosmom** » Jul 07, 2007 10:31 pm

If I might recommend a small tiller, I have an electric motor Mantis tiller that I have been extremely pleased with. I have great difficulty with pull start motors of any type, so I took a chance on the electric. It digs into my hard clay soil like there is no tomorrow and only weighs about 20 pounds so is easy to carry around the garden. I ordered it through a local small garden store and it was in the next day. It also comes with an edger blade/wheel. It's not difficult to use and cleaning the blades and removing them is a breeze.

Laura

maidofshade · Post by **maidofshade** » Jul 07, 2007 10:33 pm

Here is my tip. Whatever you do, make sure you get rid of the grass. Use roundup or whatever before you start digging around. Even if you make a lasagna bed, the grass will come back to haunt you. I did a part bed using the lasagna method and was told you didn't need to kill off the grass first and three years later there is alot of grassy spots and dandelions coming up. I wish I would have took the time to round up the area first instead of turning the sod under and building the bed up from there. I also can tell where the old turned upside sod is cause it is a bugger to dig through.

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 11:06 pm

Thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You folks are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is the lasagna method? I would guess layering different amendments to the soil?
I will make sure that I get rid of the grass. When we first moved here I "planted" an area with daylilies and daffodil bulbs without

removing the grass first. What a mistake that was. I now have an area that has daylilies that aren't doing well mixed with a lot of grass that is doing well. Eventually I will dig out all of the daylilies and start again but I don't want to make the same mistake with this hosta bed.
Thanks for all of the support. I'll look for some nice hostas to fill the area and post a picture next year... hope I'm not being too optimistic.
Thanks again!!

Wild Dog · Post by **Wild Dog** » Jul 07, 2007 11:08 pm

Absolute waste of time to till or amend, dig a minimum hole stick the hosta in, mulch and walk away. Swear that is all you have to do.

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Jul 07, 2007 11:30 pm

THANKS, that's my kind of answer. I will remove the grass (okay, mostly weeds) dig a nice hole for each with a few choice items added. Don't know what I'll mulch with as the run off from the roof is going to be a problem.
Wait! I still have to select and order the hostas!

John · Post by **John** » Jul 07, 2007 11:47 pm

Wild Dog said "Absolute waste of time to till or amend".

I don't understand this discounting of the sincere efforts of people here to help VT obtain the best possible results by sharing their personal knowledge and experience; that's not what these forums are all about.

Wild Dog · Post by **Wild Dog** » Jul 08, 2007 12:06 am

John, I only say that because I think it is the simple truth, would you have me say different when I've studied the question for years and can support this assertion with field work to support this position.

Or, is there something I don't understand.