RE: smashed hostas

Lisa-

Replace them?  No, You shouldn't have to. I'd just
cut them to the ground and let them throw another 
flush.  It will be smaller 2nd time around and they
likely will be smaller next season but they will
rebound.

Mike
Milwaukee
(where it's stormin' now)

-----Original Message-----
From: falkora@smig.net [f*@smig.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 9:39 AM
To: hosta-open@hort.net
Subject: smashed hostas


I hope someone can offer me some advice on what to do about a couple 
of hostas smashed by a fallen tree.  The top half of a large spruce 
tree was blown over in a storm last night, and fell right on top of 
my best, most established hosta bed.  When I went out this morning I 
thought the whole bed was ruined...all I could see was the spruce 
tree.  When I finally finished cutting the tree into small enough 
pieces that I could move them out on the lawn, I was amazed at how 
little damage was done!  Only two hostas were badly damaged.  I had a 
huge clump of 'Sugar and Cream' the biggest one I have seen and it 
was just flattened.  Many leaves were just hanging by a thread and 
I've removed those.  Others are laying flat on the ground (I didn't 
realize what long petioles this hosta has until I see them flat) but 
are still in one piece.  Should I cut off all the leaves?  Or prop up 
the remaining ones so they aren't laying on the ground?
For the leaves that are broken off, many of the remaining petioles 
are 8-9 inches long.  Should I trim them off at the ground or leave 
them long?  I hate to give up on this plant (one of my favorite 
fragrant cultivars) because there has to be a tremendous root system 
under the ground!  The other hosta was 'Tattoo', which was completely 
crushed.  All I can do with it is wait and see if any new growth 
comes up.  But I expect I will have to replace it.
Linda Kofstad
S.Minn.
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