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Among gardeners there is no unequivocal opinion on whether the host should be cut for the winter or not. This is a rather unpretentious and winter-hardy plant that confidently endures even the Ural and Siberian winters (with additional shelter). Therefore, you can cut the shoots in the spring. But flower stalks are best removed in the fall. And you don’t need to cut all the branches under the stump – then the bush can weaken, which will have a bad effect on its growth next season.
Do I need to prune the host in the fall for the winter
Regarding pruning, gardeners still do not have an unambiguous opinion:
- On the one hand, pruning bushes for the winter is a useful procedure. It allows you to stimulate growth for the next season.
- On the other hand, it is not necessary to prune the hosta for the winter, since it is a winter-hardy plant that will winter well even with leaves and shoots.
In any case, you should proceed from the fact that you need to cut the host – either in the fall or in the spring. Thanks to this procedure, the plant will become stronger: old and damaged branches are removed, and new shoots grow in their place. Therefore, each gardener can decide for himself when it is better to do a haircut.
Many experienced summer residents do not prune the host in the fall.
There is also an opinion that the need for pruning for the winter can be determined by the appearance of the hosts:
- If she has approximately the same number of peduncles and stems with leaves, then only part of the peduncles can be removed. If you prune all the shoots, this can lead to the fact that the bush will lose strength and slow down in growth.
- If there are very few peduncles, and shoots with leaves predominate on the bush, it is better to remove all peduncles. This will not affect the plant in the least – on the contrary, it will get rid of the need to direct nutrients to the formation of unnecessary seeds.
When to Prune Your Hosta in the Fall
The term for pruning hostas in the fall directly depends on the climatic conditions of the region. Moreover, it is important to pay attention to the appearance of the bush: if almost all the leaves have turned yellow, then you need to start cutting.
If all the leaves of the plant have turned yellow, the nutrients have passed into the stem and roots, then it’s time to start pruning for the winter.
When to prune the host for the winter in the suburbs and regions
Pruning is always a stress for the plant, after which it must have time to recover, and cuts should at least dry out a little. Usually, autumn shearing is carried out at least 3-4 weeks before the first frost on the soil (temperature is about 0 degrees). And even if the foliage has not had time to completely turn yellow, pruning should be carried out, focusing specifically on climatic conditions.
In the middle lane
Since in the regions of the middle lane, the first frosts usually occur in the second half of October, pruning hostas for the winter in the Moscow region can be started as early as the 20th of September. If a warm Indian summer is expected, the deadline is early October.
In the southern regions
In the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory, the North Caucasus and other southern regions, pruning hostas for the winter can be started quite late – in mid-October. At the same time, it is not required to spud a bush, mulch, and even more so cover it with fiber. Hosts in most cases tolerate winters well, especially in the climatic conditions of the south.
In Siberia and the Urals
As for Siberia and the Urals, the first frosts here can occur even in the middle or at the end of September. Therefore, if the forecast is unfavorable, pruning is best done at the beginning of this month. If a warm Indian summer is expected (usually until mid-October), then pruning hostas for the winter can be done on the 10th of September.
The optimal pruning time is a month before the first frost.
How to prune hosta for the winter
Pruning hostas for the winter is carried out according to generally accepted rules. First, prepare the tools, then inspect the bush and remove foliage, branches, as well as old flowers.
Preparation of tools
To trim the hosta, you can use ordinary garden shears or secateurs that fit comfortably in your hand. Before starting a haircut, it is important to disinfect the blades of the working tool. To do this, you can use any disinfectant:
- medical spray;
- alcohol wipes;
- rags soaked in potassium permanganate.
Alcohol-containing products are most often used as disinfectants. It is also allowed to use a weak solution of potassium permanganate 1-2% or kerosene. If there is nothing at hand, you can process it with ordinary vodka.
Pruning is easier to do with gardening gloves
How to prune hosta flowers
Flowers at the hosta for the winter are cut off immediately after they wither. If this is not done earlier, the ovaries will form small fruits. Therefore, the plant will begin to give additional nutrients to these processes, including the formation of seeds, which will not be useful later.
Immediately after flowering, it is necessary to completely remove the flower stalks (cutting under the base) and discard them. When pruning, you need to gently press the leaves so that they are not damaged. Theoretically, this can be done in the spring. But in this case, the nascent buds can be damaged – and the host will give fewer shoots.
Remove flower stalks after flowering
How to prune hosta leaves for the winter
It is not necessary to trim the leaves of the hosta, because the plant will winter well with them. However, it is allowed to remove several shoots. Definitely need to remove weak, dry and damaged branches – they spoil the appearance and also take away the strength of the plant. Shearing is carried out in the standard way – the branches are removed at the root with scissors or secateurs.
At the same time, it is not worth removing all the shoots at once. If a decision is made to do anti-aging pruning, they can be shortened, leaving 2-3 buds (up to 15 cm high). Then mulch or spud the bush. In the southern regions and the middle lane (if the winter is forecast to be snowy), this is not necessary.
Caring for hostas after pruning
Regardless of whether the haircut is carried out in the fall or not, the plant should be prepared for the winter. It is not difficult to do this. First of all, the bush is fed, and the deadline for adding additives is the end of August. In order for the plant to survive the winter period well, potassium salt (for example, potassium sulfate) and superphosphates are added.
It is also necessary to ensure good watering by adding 2 buckets in the second half of September, 2-3 weeks before frost. As for mulching and sheltering, this procedure is mandatory in the Urals and Siberia. It is also carried out in the middle lane if the winter is expected to be frosty. Used as mulch:
- needles;
- sawdust;
- hay;
- peat.
In the fall, it’s good to spud the bush, and first loosen the ground in the near-trunk circle so that the air gets to the roots to the maximum.
Conclusion
According to the experience of many gardeners, it is necessary to cut the hosta for the winter, and not completely (under the stump), but only partially. Withered flower stalks are often removed immediately after flowering. And it is allowed to leave the yellowed foliage – together with the snow, it will serve as a natural shelter for the bush.
