Would you plan to move them?

party_music50 · Post by **party_music50** » Jan 22, 2008 8:59 am

Deep winter here, but I'd like to have some kind of plan for when they are in 'eye' form.... I've spent the past 3 or 4 years establishing a nice small collection of hostas in a heavily shaded yard. In November, ALL of the neighbors went nuts cutting down their trees that were providing most of the shade and privacy.

I'm more bummed about feeling like I'm in a fish-bowl out there now -- but I still need to address how this will affect the hostas.

I'm particularly concerned about the ones that were in full shade, that will now be in full sun. For example, I'm *positive* that my 'Fire & Ice' will HAVE to be moved. But what about the others???? I obviously don't have any place prep'd for them, and am pretty much out of shade now, so worst case would be to dig every one and pot them as soon as I can find the eyes, and place them somewhere a bit more sheltered until I completely give up.

Those that will simply get "more" sun than before are going to have to fend for themselves, but luckily they are the larger hostas.

Off the top of my head, the ones that will be experiencing a change from full shade to full sun are: 'Blue Cadet', 'Abiqua Blue Edger', 'Allan P. McConnell', Venusta, Lemon-Lime, Twist of Lime, Wide Brim, June, Striptease, Twilight, Golden Tiara, Emerald Tiara, Platinum Tiara, Blue Mouse Ears, Fireworks, Ginko Craig, Antioch, Mama Mia, Little Sun Spot ... there are others that I can't think of at the moment, so I'll need to add to this list.

Which of these will HATE full sun? I'd rather dig them before they're up and melting. I suspect it's any with lots of white or blue.

Kent · Post by **Kent** » Jan 22, 2008 9:28 am

I grow tons of hostas in full sun in CNY. usually the ones with white will give you the most trouble and are the ones I'd move first. You will find the blues will look quite nice in our area in full sun until the temps reach in high 80's. Yellows also have no problem.

If we have a dry summer you will have to water like crazy especially if you live in a sand pit like I do in North Syracuse.
If your soil is more clay based you should be fine.

You will find that only the most tempermental hostas in our area will need a few hours of shade in the afternoon to look their best.

Cheers,
Kent

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Jan 22, 2008 10:36 am

Hey PM50,

Make sure of course when you dig 'em up to take as big a clump of soil with it as practical and do as little disturbing of the roots as possible, so they'll have a fairly easy transition. The biggest thing in your favour right now is that the ones you leave will come up in full sun and not have to do any acclimating for the season.

While I only have a fraction of the varieties you list, my experience out West tells me Blue Mouse Ears should be fine where it is, mine were pretty much in full sun last year and thrived. I suspect June and Striptease will be fine also, but you'll suffer burn-out with probably all the Tiaras and Wide Brim. I have no experience with any of the others. I'd venture to say that the ones with heavier substance, like that near-succulent BME, will probably give you the least trouble and some of them might actually do better. If you leave the June where it is expect it to look quite different from what you're used to.

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Jan 22, 2008 11:23 am

Could you provide temporary or permanent shade for them where they are? I have seen many pics of beautiful arbors and such...might also help alleviate that fish-bowl feeling.

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Jan 22, 2008 12:18 pm

Hi--My Fire & Ice did not start to do well until I put it in a spot that gets up to about 6 hours or so of mid-day and afternoon sun. It might be worth a try for you to leave it in place this year to see what happens.

party_music50 · Post by **party_music50** » Jan 22, 2008 2:36 pm

OMG, you guys are cheering me up! lol!

Kent, you're probably only about an hour+ from me! The soil in the yard was originally sand, but I've been ammending it for so many years that it's quite nice in those spots that will now get full sun.

Pieter, I figured the sun would turn the blue hostas green, so I'm glad to hear that your experience was good. I've often heard about the different 'looks' of June, so am curious to see what she does -- though I love the coloring exactly as it is now.

eastwood: YES! adding structural shade is a great solution for one hosta garden in particular!!!

Hank, I know for certain that my Fire & Ice will have be moved. I originally planted it in morning sun and it melted horribly. I moved it to this full-shade location and it's been perfect and growing great. Although... on second thought... maybe it's growing great because the soil in this location is so much better. Ok, I'll think about leaving it. lol!

Thank you all so much! I've been dreading the idea of digging up all these hostas and figuring out what to do with them. It's not just hostas there either, but I figured I wouldn't confuse the issue....

Thanks again!

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Jan 22, 2008 3:08 pm

I have only a single June and it happens to be in a location where the front part of the plant receives more direct sun than the back half, which makes for an interesting study and example of how direct light affects the appearance of this prized cultivar... this picture was taken early June last year and you can see how most of the leaves at the front have started to lighten up their variegation, whereas the ones at the back stay much greener all year round. Those are Dutch Iris leaves by the way, in case you're wondering....

sugar · Post by **sugar** » Jan 22, 2008 4:56 pm

June in the sun :

June in shade

I have a lot of hosta getting a lot of sun, over here, as long as they get enough water, there is no issue.

Ginger · Post by **Ginger** » Jan 22, 2008 5:05 pm

I love the June in the sun! I like that yellow in the center

Mine stayed dark all summer, but with our hot sun, I did not let it get much direct sun, just filtered light on the porch.

Ginger

sugar · Post by **sugar** » Jan 22, 2008 6:01 pm

Ginger, take a division of your June, put it in a container, and place the container in a saucer , assure the saucer is filled during the summer with 0,5-1" of water.
It should thrive, even with quite some sun

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Jan 22, 2008 8:09 pm

Lol, I like the shade June.

thy · Post by **thy** » Jan 22, 2008 9:12 pm

Listen to Kent and Hank

I moved my F and I after Hanks advise,... it is so beautiful with a lot of sun

Only one I would find a shaded space for is Wide Brim.

They emerge in spring and somehow adjust to the sun mostly..sometimes it seems like we would do better moving a "so so" hosta to the sun instead of the shade.

Sunmflowers give a great one year shade

Izzy · Post by **Izzy** » Jan 23, 2008 1:04 am

I know that I'm new to the forum, however I could offer some advise. Arbours are great, but "can" get expensive!

Been there!
A cheap alternative is to create your own private jungle, using Casterbean plants and Large Sunflowers! Both can be started from seed! My Caster Beans Reached 12ft last year and offered great shade and privacy for my hosta's. The best time to start the Caster Beans is 1 month before the last frost in your area! Do a little research on them first. Then I'd barricade my neighbours with them, right along the fence line, so they couldn't see you in your fish bowl!

I hope this helps! Take the advise, don't risk moving them! Accomedate!
Elizabeth

Mary Ann · Post by **Mary Ann** » Jan 23, 2008 1:42 am

Don't laugh, but another idea for emergency temporary shade is umbrellas. I use them now and then to protect hosta on blistering hot days. (Sink a poly tube into the soil to hold the shaft.)

This year I'm also collecting old card tables to block intolerably hot sun rays. A couple miserably hot days in July can scorch a plant for the whole season.

newhostaaddict · Post by **newhostaaddict** » Jan 23, 2008 12:12 pm

hi mary ann...

i'm not laughing....i was going to suggest the same thing...for a quick fix...

i went on a garden tour last year and one place had about 5 of those umbrellas in their garden....

jill

party_music50 · Post by **party_music50** » Jan 23, 2008 12:44 pm

Wow, I didn't expect any more responses. lol!

Thank you Pieter and sugar for the photos... I definitely prefer the shady June.

Elizabeth, I was already thinking along those lines, trying to figure out what I can plant that will grow tall and fast along the property edge. They removed the trees, and appear to be replacing them with trash, rocks (I mean a HUGE pile!), and debris! I can't believe what I'm seeing... and it's being piled against the fence, which does NOT belong to them! sigh. I'm pretty sure that the woman who lives there is insane: she's on her hands and knees EVERY POSSIBLE DAY, wearing rubber gloves, and scraping and spraying the soil to try to kill everything. I'm beginning to think she had the trees cut down in an attempt to fry my gardens!

Mary Ann and newhostaddict: I will definitely consider umbrellas and ANYTHING that will blot out my view of the insane woman. lol!

Thanks everyone. I'm having a complete SUCK day. I just got a ticket because an idiot sheriff said he "saw me put something DARK to my ear"... claiming that I was using my cellphone while driving. I was not. Nothing was to my ear. I have NEVER used my cellphone while driving, and even tried to show him my phone so that he could SEE that it hasn't been used in days. He wouldn't look, he still ticketed me, and now I have to go to court to fight it!!! Definitely a SUCK day.

Izzy · Post by **Izzy** » Jan 23, 2008 4:37 pm

First off Maybe he was having a bad day, and thought you should enjoy it with him!

As for the Caster Beans, I'd now definately put them against my Fence line! I dealt with people like that, and after reading your original post, I thought it was probably along those lines as you last discribed.
Caster Beans definately does maintain the "green" to go along with your gardens. In all my gardens I have always maintained the considerations of the elements. Keeping things as natural as possible. The Umbrella's are a very fast way to get the shade, very instant! And I really like the idea! So to maintain my elements, I need to design an Umbrella of light weight wood, and cover it with Ginsing cloth and allow the rain and moisture to pass through, while keeping the Harsh Direct sun out!.. I've used Ginsing cloth in the past on posts to protect my gardens, but it wasn't very decorative! But I can build an 8' Umbrella or two! And make it look pretty,

I am in Love with this place! I'm learning very fast that this place is very enabling!

Elizabeth

party_music50 · Post by **party_music50** » Jan 23, 2008 6:48 pm

Elizabeth, I tried castor bean from fresh seed last year and none germinated. I was thinking of some vines on the fence (like MG), tall amaranthus (like Hope 'Red Dye'), a layer or two of cosmos and things... I just hope I can get the cats to leave it alone.

thy: I meant to say that moving Wide Brim is actually a suggestion that I like hearing! It had a wild growth-spurt last year and is really too large for the spot it's in. It also had INCREDIBLE flower clusters last year, so it became one of my favorites.

newhostaaddict · Post by **newhostaaddict** » Jan 23, 2008 7:16 pm

hi pm50,,,

you said they were spraying for weeds...

maybe if there is something very important,,,you may want to move that,,,

jill

largosmom · Post by **largosmom** » Jan 23, 2008 8:48 pm

Maybe the neighbor is trying to grow grass seed and is spraying to get rid of the weeds prior to sowing (wishful thinking).

Good luck, I'm glad to have cut some of our trees, we get some sunshine now so that I can enjoy some sunny plants in addition to my shade garden, but I don't know what I would do if the rest of the shade trees disappeared.

Laura