Hosta Heartbreak

Discussion in 'Member's Gallery' started by Kay, May 13, 2016.

  1. Kay

    Kay Girl with Green Thumbs

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,332
    Likes Received:
    752
    Location:
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    Monday 5/9 we had a big nasty storm stall out over our fair city. For over 4 hours, we had heavy rain, thunder, lightening, high winds, tornado sirens, and HAIL. It was a wild ride, because storms will usually move through faster, and this one just sat over us and pounded us. There were several tornadoes, and some folks did have damage to their homes.
    Here at Birchwood gardens, we fared well as far as any damage to our house or vehicles, but as you can see in my pics; my gardens were not so lucky. The Hostas sustained by far the most severe damage. Tress and shrubs did OK and other perennials seemed to be fine for the most part.I was just heartbroken to see the battered plants. A few Hostas that sit directly under trees were not hit so bad, but some are just shredded. I had just planted 5 bareroot beauties that I had mail ordered this spring. They are in bad condition.
    I am now wondering what will become of these poor plants this season. I was instructed to cut out the worst damaged leaves, but to not cut them down because they will still need to photosynthesize.
    One garden guy suggested fertilizing if they had not been fed yet (which mine mostly have with a slow release) in that case try some water soluble like Miracle Grow. So here are the sad pics.:smt089So, you get the picture, quite awful. I am a dedicated Hostaholic; I will not give up! IMG_1268.JPG IMG_1268.JPG IMG_1270.JPG IMG_1272.JPG IMG_1274.JPG IMG_1279.JPG IMG_1286.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Loading...

    Similar Threads
    1. Droopy
      Replies:
      6
      Views:
      184,970
    2. Droopy
      Replies:
      12
      Views:
      395,288

  3. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2014
    Messages:
    2,581
    Likes Received:
    1,567
    Location:
    Idaho Mountains
    I have had the same thing happen to mine once and they all recovered, if that makes you feel better. I didn't cut back any leaves as I thought any piece of green was better left. Mine were established plants so I don't know about your babies.
     
  4. stratsmom

    stratsmom Flower Fanatic

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2006
    Messages:
    4,086
    Likes Received:
    700
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    I'd say just love them and then love them some more!! We had a horrendous hail storm last week and it damaged a few things. We don't have many things in bloom yet so the damage was minimal. I went to the garden center looking at plants yesterday and bought one wave petunia for $1.65 and a beautiful geranium for $3.65 because they had been badly beaten by the hail :( I know they'll come back but they look pretty sad right now. I like the 3 or 4 you have living together in the same pot. I too am a Hostaholic so I feel your pain.
     
    SongofJoy57, Philip Nulty and Kay like this.
  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,642
    Shocking. Time for beer and cups? Or is it too late for you.
    Such a shame to see. Those slugs and snails are ruthless.
    My condolences.
     
    SongofJoy57 and Kay like this.



    Advertisement
  6. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    7,074
    Likes Received:
    6,813
    Location:
    New England
    Oh dear Kay, Shredded shreds! The lime green one (Guacamole?) looks the worst! But I will repeat what others have said: the same thing happened last year to my hostas & they all recovered just fine. True, they did not have their full beauty last summer, but they were healthy. Think of them as pimple faced teenagers whom you know will outgrow the 'ugly ducking' phase.
     
  7. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    18,338
    Likes Received:
    5,156
    Location:
    Southern Ontario zone 5b
    Such a shame Kay, but Hosta's are very resilient...they will be just fine. They will send out new growth and before long they will look as good as new!
     
    SongofJoy57, Philip Nulty and Kay like this.
  8. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2013
    Messages:
    3,120
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Nashville Tennessee
    Oh ow! :(

    I don't have a whole lot of experience with hostas, but what I DO have tells me they are incredibly resilient. If they were my plants I'd just leave them completely alone to heal on their own. I'd be the support person of course...making sure they were fed and watered and nurtured that way, but my experience with hostas is that they do an amazing job of fixing themselves with the right kind of peripheral support.
     
  9. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    12,067
    Likes Received:
    3,501
    Location:
    Western Norway
    Oh dear me, what a sorry sight. :( They will bounce back. Fingers crossed they will look better than ever.
     
    SongofJoy57, Philip Nulty and Kay like this.
  10. Kay

    Kay Girl with Green Thumbs

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,332
    Likes Received:
    752
    Location:
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. It is so sad to look at them right now. I just want to give em hugs :( I will finally have time tomorrow and the weather will permit me to get out and access and probably give them a dose of liquid fertilizer. BTW- Mother Nature continues to be mischievous, the low last night was 37F. Brrr
    Last Sunday; Mother's Day, I had taken my Mom on a stroll through my gardens and was just so very proud of how great everything looked. Recovery mode...
     
  11. Philip Nulty

    Philip Nulty Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,430
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Location:
    The Midlands,Ireland
    Hi Kay,..oh boy you were pounded for sure,..those plants will recover as its only the leaves and not the roots that were damaged,..you could leave them as they are but i would cut off just a few of the badly damaged leaves as that will promote more growth quicker rather,.. than have the plant spend more energy trying to repair its damaged leaves.
     
  12. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
    Messages:
    7,175
    Likes Received:
    3,016
    Location:
    Chelmsford MA
    Out of the 70 odd hostas I have, only lost 3 original plants and 6 of their offspring. The best guess for their demise was extreme cold experienced by tender new plants.

    As for the rest, despite being trampled, run over by lawnmowers and heavy machinery they always seem to rebound. Sometimes a benefit of the unusual abuse is more plants. The original plant often sends up multiple shoots. :) Bottom line, your plants will survive.

    Jerry
     
    stratsmom and Kay like this.
  13. Sherry8

    Sherry8 I Love Birds!

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    1,825
    Location:
    Wisconsin...zone 5
    Sorry to see all of the damage...I agree that next season you will not even remember it happened and just don't worry about them too much. I would only pull off the leaves that start to dry up for now. We are experiencing 30 degrees at night right now, I have a garage full of plants waiting to go into the ground or pots. The ones in the pots I covered with sheets, I do hope it was enough. Not sure when our spring will ever arrive. We get a beautiful day and then our temperatures drop again and the cycle keeps going.
     
    stratsmom, Tooty2shoes and Kay like this.
  14. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,264
    Likes Received:
    1,510
    Location:
    Denmark, Wis.
    Kay they do look rather sad. But like others have said. With tender loving care they will recover.
    Sherry8--I know exactly what you mean about our crazy weather and temps. We are closer to Lake Michigan so our temps haven't been quite as cold. But I did have a think sheet of ice the other morning on my dish of Oriole jelly juice.:eek: Not sure if our fruit trees took a hit of not. Need to inspect them closer to see if they are going to drop their blossoms. :fingerscrossed:
     
    Kay likes this.
  15. Kay

    Kay Girl with Green Thumbs

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,332
    Likes Received:
    752
    Location:
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    5/19 update I spent the entire day puttering in my gardens (I just love these days) I think the Hostas are recovering from their rude assault slowly. I removed more of the badly damaged leaves from them, and notice new growth is starting to show. I have a feeling that the plants are going to be smaller this season because of this.
     
    Cayuga Morning and Sjoerd like this.
  16. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,642
    It is good to hear that things are improving with your hosta's.
    Fingers crossed for the rest of the season.
    I'll bet you really do enjoy these sorts of days in your gardens.
     
    Kay likes this.

Share This Page