Any time is a good time to transplant hostas, daylilies, and some other shade plants. However, the best time is in September and May. In Sept. you want to get them into the ground so they can develop roots taking them into the months of sleep. Stop feeding any plants before the end of Aug. because you don't want rapid growth before they begin to retire for the winter.

The American Hosta Society has encouraged breeders to develop flowers that people like and will not cut off just as they begin to bloom. I too am not crazy about the pale lavender flowers but I have tried to let them have their day. As soon as most of the flowers have dried up I deadhead them because I don't want the energy taken from the plant to produce unwanted seeds. It is much better to let that energy flow down the stems and back into the roots, the same for daylilies. Watch how rapidly the energy in the stem reverts to the roots, and then deadhead the stems.

The Asians have a more natural outlook on gardening. A dead leaf or slug holes are enjoyed because they are part of nature. If you can see it that way, especially now that the end is near, leave them so the energy from those leaves also flows back into the roots.

I am offering my last free seminar for this season—Sept. 7th , 9am to noon—I have over 3,000 hostas, 650+ varieties, hundreds of companion plants, and more. The seminar will begin with a tour of the many gardens to see the materials that can be used to make a low raised bed and ideas on what you would like in your garden(s)—my personal preference is that I like my gardens to be raised a little above the lawn.

On the tour I will give you some interesting facts about hostas.

Then we will dig up a large green hosta and I will divide it in half and then let you divide a clump for you to take home.

After that we will make a compost from scratch. If you start it in the spring, by fall it will be ready to improve the soil. I will give you a free bag of starter manure.

We will then design a hosta garden on a section of my lawn. I have a large number of potted shade plants that we will be able to arrange into a well-designed garden. After that we will sit back, look at what we have done and make changes if necessary.

Beyond the green hosta and starter manure I will be giving you a small clump of a solid yellow and blue hostas and some Canadian and European ginger to help you start your garden. Solid colored hostas or other solid colored plants play a big role in a well-designed garden.

Please contact jim.hostas@gmail.com for directions and to secure a spot for this seminar--limit of ten.

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