Ground cover planting acts as a natural weed suppressant, and none will look better than hostas. As weeds are a perennial chore for gardeners, and we all spend much of our time removing them from flower beds or borders, would you consider using hostas to prevent weeds?
We focus on this particular plant as gardeners love growing hostas. They are one of the most popular foliage plants, and what makes them good at weed prevention is their large, overlapping leaves. They can form a dense canopy to block sunlight from reaching the soil, removing one of the key factors that weeds need to grow successfully.
(Image credit: Darrell Gulin / The Image Bank / Getty Images)
Above: The foliage of hosta plants knits together and blocks light when planted in clumps.
It may be an unconventional way to keep weeds out of flower beds, but it offers an attractive way to stop them from growing in unwanted areas. However, it is not a magic shield that prevents all weeds from appearing. So, let’s look at how to use hostas to prevent weeds. Just remember though it won’t stop everything, it can make a valuable difference.
How to Use Hostas to Prevent Weeds
Ground cover plants offer a valuable way to reduce the time you need to spend weeding beds and borders. Less bare soil means fewer opportunities for weeds to germinate and get established.
The advantages of hostas are that they can make low-maintenance ground cover plants. And, as one of the best shade plants, they can thrive where other alternatives may not, such as a darker corner or beneath a tree.
How It Works
Hostas form dense clumps and cast a large shade due to their foliage. When the foliage fully opens in late spring its overlapping leaves can almost completely cover the soil surface.
‘The large leaves of hostas create a dense canopy that blocks sunlight, helping to prevent weed growth,’ claim the experts from Sienna Hosta. ‘This natural weed control reduces the need for chemical herbicides and saves gardeners time and effort.’
Michael Clarke, horticulturist and founder of Yardwork, says the ‘tight clumps’ that hostas form are crucial to preventing weeds from thriving.
‘Hosta leaves arch outward and downward, expanding outward year by year, leaving very little bare soil once established,’ he adds. ‘This clumping habit means fewer gaps for weeds to sneak through compared to upright or airy plants.’
How to Do It
Large or small leafed Hostas
A different approach
However, the experts at Sienna Hosta suggest a different approach worth considering. They say: ‘Small and medium varieties like ‘Golden Tiara’, ‘June’, and ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ spread quickly and fill gaps effectively. Fast-spreading cultivars such as ‘Royal Standard’ and ‘Goldrush’ are ideal for covering large areas efficiently.’
Thankfully, there is a wide range of hostas in different colors, shapes, and sizes you can pick to add to flower beds, so you should be able to find a selection that fits any need or aesthetic.
Planting Hostas
Michael Clarke recommends planting the hostas in blocks and spacing them based on how big they’ll get when mature, rather than their current size. He advises: ‘For large hostas, it’s best to space them 18–30 inches apart, while medium hostas should be spaced 12–18 inches apart.’
‘If you want fast weed control, plant them slightly closer than recommended so that they touch and overlap,’ he adds.
An important final task is to mulch around the hostas with a 2–3-inch layer of organic mulch. This mulching layer not only keeps moisture in the soil but suppresses weed seeds from germinating.
The Limitations
Using hostas as ground cover will not completely prevent any weeds from appearing.
This is especially the case for the first few years, as the plants establish and the clump develops. It will take around two years for young hostas to expand into a lush carpet of foliage, and during this time, weeds will infiltrate the bare soil between the plants.
There is also an annual window when you will be susceptible to early-season weeds. Hostas are perennial plants, but they do die back each winter and start growing again come mid-to-late spring.
‘This means that for several months, your soil is bare, and it’s going to be vulnerable to early-season weeds, ‘says Gerardo Loayza, landscape design expert and founder of BACQYARD. ‘But you can plant some spring bulbs in between the hostas to provide some early coverage.’
When you winterize hostas, spreading a thick layer of mulch around plants will limit the opportunities for weeds to establish during these months when the soil would otherwise sit bare.
To be truthful, there will always be some troublesome, aggressive weeds that will push through and need to be removed. But when they do appear, get rid of them quickly to stop them from spreading seeds.
Placement
To guarantee success with hostas, planting them in the right place is imperative. Plant them in shade and rich, well-draining soil, and hostas will thrive. Put them in too much sun, or in dry shade, and they will struggle.
Source: Homes & Gardens©
Related: What’s Your Favorite Hosta? – TUTORING YOU
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