Re: Hosta help needed
- Subject: Re: [SG] Hosta help needed
- From: L* N*
- Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 10:31:43 -0400
<<<This is the 2nd/3rd year for my hostas. All came back, most look good
but I have 2 that have something going on. The first one came up through
the ground with feathered (shredded) leaves. The other (far away from the
first one and several hostas between) now has holes in its leaves. So is
this a slug attack?-->>>>
Sue,
Sounds like it could be "slug attack" to me. Are holes relatively small, or
are ends or chunks of leaves missing (rabbits or deer)? Go out at night and
check leaf undersides (tops too) and down in between stems. Also, you
should see some slime trails on the plant and/or on the ground around it.
My first & preferred approach to slug management is organic (though I have
resorted to toxins when the situation was extreme). I place old boards, cut
to about 12-18" in length in the garden between my hostas. In the morning
when they've all crawled back under the boards to hide from daylight, I go
around with a big bucket of water, lift each of the boards and dunk/swish
them in the bucket to wash of the slugs (and leave the slugs there to
drown). Alternately, you can pick them off but that's gross and its hard to
get eggs (or whatever they are) and new hatchlings. I do this for about 2
weeks and it eliminates a lot (not all) of the problem. I get most of the
big slugs.
If your problem is severe, there is a product called "Deadline" which is
hideously toxic (I think the active ingredient is cyanide). Make sure you
don't have any pets that might decide to try it out. However, it does
attract the slugs and is VERY effective at killing them. The product (it is
a thick liquid that looks like a mixture of lead and mercury) is applied in
a ring on the ground around the base of the plant. The slugs are quite
literally out there gasping the next morning. Like I said - I would do this
ONLY as a last resort. I've not used it in MANY years! The boards are much
preferred!
Good luck!
Louise in Park Hills, KY (zone 6)
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