Marianne's Response

Did I Plant My Hostas Too Deeply?

I have several hostas under a Canadian Cherry Tree. Most are doing well. However, there is one that only gets a little larger or fuller. I purchased this plant three or four years ago and thought it was large enough to divide it, which is what I did. The section that didn’t get fuller is a single stem. It comes up every year but is never any bigger. It also gets spots on some of the leaves that die. They become very brittle and almost paper-like. Do you have any ideas about what is wrong with this? Is it possible to plant them too deeply? I have another small hosta under that same tree. It is a small light green hosta that doesn’t do well, often dying before the season ends.
Thank you.

Posted by Margy on July 12, 2016

Marianne's Response

Yes, it is possible to plant a hosta too deep but in your case I suspect the roots of the tree are causing the soil to dry out quickly and the dry shade is making it difficult for the hosta near the roots to survive. Try adding a mulch of compost or manure or digging up the sad hosta and replanting in an area with improved soil. If a plant has leaf problems year after year it may be time to add it to the compost pile and replace with a healthier plant. In dry shade such as you have under the cherry a lamium, hardy cyclamen, sword fern or lady's mantle may do better than the hosta. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

    Search the Ask the Gardening Expert library

    Looking for a quick resolution to your problem? Marianne has answered thousands of gardening questions. One may be similar to yours. Try searching our library to get the answer you need — fast!

    My Topics

    View questions you submitted to Marianne in the past

    VIEW MY QUESTIONS