Does this hosta need special winter care, or is it easy to do too much?
Your white-edged hosta ‘Patriot’ looks healthy and is already outdoors in partial sun. In late August, the important thing is less about extra attention and more about what to avoid before the cold arrives.
This is a hosta of the ‘Patriot’ type, and it is fundamentally very winter hardy. In Hartungviken, Sweden, in late August, there is no need for intensive preparation; let it enter dormancy at its own pace. Avoid extra fertiliser now, as soft late growth is less well prepared for winter.
Once the leaves have yellowed or been knocked down by frost, you can cut them off at the base to keep things tidy and reduce hiding places for slugs. If it is newly planted, wait until the ground has cooled, then put a thin layer of dry leaves, composted bark or spruce branches over the root zone to protect against frost without snow cover and fluctuating winter weather. Do not make the layer too thick or pack it tightly.
Until then, simply make sure it does not dry out completely. Water during a long dry spell in autumn, but do not leave it sitting wet. In spring, remove the winter covering early as the ground thaws so that new shoots can emerge freely.
Sources and images 1
- Original reader contribution ↗Reader question
