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Re: [SG] hostas and sun

John G. Adney wrote:
>>I have few problems with leaf burn despite the sunny environment. I believe
this results mainly from moist and mulched soil. I use wood chips for mulch,
two to three inches deep. I fertilize once in early spring as the hosta are
popping up through the soil.<<

Desiccation is also an important factor. If wind or blasts of wind are
present in or around a Hosta bed, leaves are much more likely to show burn
spots. Excessive sun and nitrogen will also exacerbate the problem.
Well-balanced soil nutrition is key to promoting sustainable growth. Feast
and famine, produced by nitrogen fertilizer regimes, can add their negative
influence as well.

>As for light shade and part shade, I don't consider them to be much
>different.

They can be. Light shade could be produced by lightly-leaved trees such as
a locust (Robinia) a/k/a dapple shade. OTOH, part shade could be an open
glade in a heavy canopy with full sun exposure from 10 am to 3 pm which. It
is important to note to the author how they define the shade or reference a
standard source. Shady Oaks used to include a definition of their terms and
I still reference those.

>I wouldn't worry a lot about sun exposure. Most hosta are quite
>hardy, even if you can't match entirely their preferred growing conditions.

This mixes the metaphors a little. Sun exposure definitely affects growth
in Hosta. H. 'Janet' for example is not very attractive in high light
conditions and does its best in low light areas. The hardiness of the plant
is not reflective of its ability to tolerate (or not) sun exposure. If the
plant is in too much sun, it may simply go dormant and return the following
year: hardy, but not desirable.

Just my two cents, not intended for anything other than information
diatribe. :-)

Stephen Nyikos, Shadow Gardens --> Hosta Specialists in Zone  5
Northern Indiana's best corn-fed retail perennials for the shade.
PH: 219.834.4834     FX: 219.834.3556

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