topic Re: Hostas Question in Garden

Hostas Question

coffee drinker — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:45:58 GMT

How can I keep the critters from eating my hosta plants? This happens every year. Seems like mine are the only ones in the neighborhood that serve as a buffet. Is there anything I can do to stop this?

Re: Hostas Question

haddon9 — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:50:58 GMT

@coffee drinker I wish I had a photo of the gorgeous hostas we had just a few days ago!!!....I say "had" because these two very healthy and lush plants were feasted on by the deer one evening! They left a single leaf behind!

I honestly don't know what to do except plant new things that deer don't like. My DH just purchased a motion detector light and installed it this afternoon. We'll see if that startles them away.

Re: Hostas Question

fthunt — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:59:13 GMT

What or who is doing lunch? My neighbor lady has dozens of "H"plants and chipmunks/squirrels are a constant here. They don't seem to be interested -

Moles - deer - rabbits ? You have to identify the chewer - are the bites high up in the plant or ground level?

Re: Hostas Question

Icegoddess — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 23:59:41 GMT

Do you know what is eating them? We've had a dramatic increase in rabbits due to building projects knocking down the woodded areas. Some swear by milorganite which is a fertilizer, but it smells and apparently deer and rabbits don't like the smell. I have used deer and rabbit sprays, but most require reapplication after it rains and we have a sprinkler system so that means every other day. Finally found a brand called Bobbex ready to use Spray which is water resistant. I'm also using some tablets that are a systemic you put at the roots and it acts systemically to make the plant bitter. It's called Plant Saver and you still need to protect the plant using other means for at least 2 weeks while it gets in their system. Not cheap, but neither are hostas.

Re: Hostas Question

Icegoddess — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:02:54 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
What or who is doing lunch? My neighbor lady has dozens of "H"plants and chipmunks/squirrels are a constant here. They don't seem to be interested -

Moles - deer - rabbits ? You have to identify the chewer - are the bites high up in the plant or ground level?

@fthunt Chipmunks & Squirrels may not eat them, but they will dig around them and even dig them up.

Re: Hostas Question

jlkz — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:08:47 GMT

@haddon9

Believe me, if the deer are hungry, even plants on the deer resistant list will become dinner. We had then eat our prickly-leaf Hollies up at the mountain place when we had it.

I have recommended Plantskydd several times on this board. Tried to upload photo to no avail.

it really works: spray bottle ran about $20 at the nursery. After using, be sure to rinse out the sprayer. There is no bad odor to it.

Good Luck !

Re: Hostas Question

Kachina624 — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:16:37 GMT

Years ago, I raised bromeliads and had dozens of them. They are occasionally eaten by insects and other things. The bromeliad society recommended spraying them with Sevin which is one of the least lethal insecticides. I found it worked great on my whole garden, even vegetables. It kept those nasty big catepillars off of my tomato plants. The trouble is it's a spray you mix from concentrate and it washes off in rain so you have to respray often. I don't think it would deter rabbits or deer, however.

Re: Hostas Question

haddon9 — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:23:47 GMT

@jlkz I never heard of it but will look into Plantskydd.....thanks!

My concern with a lot of the different animal repellents is that there usually is an awful smell to them. I don't want that in my yard either!

It seems like the deer population has been growing larger every year in my area.

Re: Hostas Question

On It — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:54:37 GMT

I have never tried it, but one of my acquaintances told us that deer are repelled by human hair. He told us to have a salon save the hair they sweep up and put it around the plants we are trying to protect. I was a little put off by that idea, but he assured us it works.

Re: Hostas Question

RedTop — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 01:18:59 GMT

@On It

Human hair does work as a deer repellant, but you have to keep the human scent strong in that area, by adding more hair frequently.

A hungry deer will eat anything!

Re: Hostas Question

jackthebear — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:39:23 GMT

@coffee drinker wrote:
How can I keep the critters from eating my hosta plants? This happens every year. Seems like mine are the only ones in the neighborhood that serve as a buffet. Is there anything I can do to stop this?

fence your yard

we had banks of hosta....the deer ate them to the ground

Re: Hostas Question

Eileen in Virginia — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:31:58 GMT

I have the same problem with my Sunpatiens. I found a spray-on product on Amazon called Deer Out. There are several sizes - I bought the 40 ounce bottle for $17. It smells like mint, which the critters (especially deer) don't like. I've had it for about a month and have only reapplied it once. It's supposed to be able to withstand all but torrential rain. I apply it when there's no rain in the forecast, then reapply it after very heavy rain. So far, so good. 🤞🏻

I've used Bobbett in the past. It worked fine, but the front of our house smelled like a latrine. I was going to order it again when I came upon Deer Out with its pleasant minty scent. It had great ratings, so I bought it. Good luck!

Re: Hostas Question

Still Raining — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:05:36 GMT

Snails also feast on them. I have put them on the do not plant list.

Re: Hostas Question

mousiegirl — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 19:40:10 GMT

@coffee drinker wrote:
How can I keep the critters from eating my hosta plants? This happens every year. Seems like mine are the only ones in the neighborhood that serve as a buffet. Is there anything I can do to stop this?

@coffee drinker Do you know what critter is eating them? I have a new issue this year, a rat is using hosta leaves to try to build a nest which we keep dismantling, but it is driving me nuts because the hostas are gorgeous and many are now blooming.

Rabbits could be eating them, also slugs are nortorious, but you would see holes in the leaves.

Re: Hostas Question

coffee drinker — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:58:43 GMT

Sorry @mousiegirl but I have no idea who's eating the hosts. It happens every year. Neighbors across the street don't have that problem yet, but certainly will later in the season.

With your nic, no wonder the critters feel at home in your hostas.