I am a Hosta lover too, but also not one for going out and picking slugs off as I don't have the time to do so. The blue, thick leaf Hostas are more slug resistant, and mine have very few holes in them this year, despite the slug explosion we have had due to all the rain! I don't like to use chemicals in the garden, so don't use slug pellets, so I am planning on using Nematodes as I have heard very good reviews about their efficacy. My mum puts a ring of pennies around plants that the slugs take a fancy too....seems to work for her. The bees love the flowers so I let them grow.
I also love Heucheras, and find them to be slug resistant, so I wouldn't let slugs put you off them- they have so many beautiful varieties, the foliage adds wonderful interest in the front of my borders, and again the bees love the tiny little flowers.
Thanks Verdun, I think it's the slug issue that put me off before but I will make sure this little fellow doesn't dry out.
Incidentally I googled 'hosta in hanging basket' and loads of images came up!! Beautiful ideas. So it looks like it can be done...I may try it. I have a bracket at a medium height where I could still see the beauty as per a pot. If it gets really big I could probably move it.
I think I'll be able to see it. If the basket is too high, you can't see non-trailing plants...but my brackets are not too high. Also I will use a longer chain on the basket. I will place it on the bracket I have on the dining room outer wall as it's a corner - no one needs to walk through and bump their head, and also it can be nicely seen very closely from the dining room window! Currently I can see everything in that basket from the window, even the non-trailing plants like the upright begonias and fuschias and marigolds.
Also I will make sure I use a basket which is very big and very deep - it has water retaining compartment. There is incessant rain here anyway so I'm pretty sure it will get enough water. I will also use water retentive crystals. I will definitely make sure it gets plenty of water. The basket I am thinking of using can be taken off at any time and placed on a stand on the patio so I can always do that too!
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I am a Hosta lover too, but also not one for going out and picking slugs off as I don't have the time to do so. The blue, thick leaf Hostas are more slug resistant, and mine have very few holes in them this year, despite the slug explosion we have had due to all the rain! I don't like to use chemicals in the garden, so don't use slug pellets, so I am planning on using Nematodes as I have heard very good reviews about their efficacy. My mum puts a ring of pennies around plants that the slugs take a fancy too....seems to work for her. The bees love the flowers so I let them grow.
I also love Heucheras, and find them to be slug resistant, so I wouldn't let slugs put you off them- they have so many beautiful varieties, the foliage adds wonderful interest in the front of my borders, and again the bees love the tiny little flowers.
Thanks Verdun, I think it's the slug issue that put me off before but I will make sure this little fellow doesn't dry out.
Incidentally I googled 'hosta in hanging basket' and loads of images came up!! Beautiful ideas. So it looks like it can be done...I may try it. I have a bracket at a medium height where I could still see the beauty as per a pot. If it gets really big I could probably move it.
I think I'll be able to see it. If the basket is too high, you can't see non-trailing plants...but my brackets are not too high. Also I will use a longer chain on the basket. I will place it on the bracket I have on the dining room outer wall as it's a corner - no one needs to walk through and bump their head, and also it can be nicely seen very closely from the dining room window! Currently I can see everything in that basket from the window, even the non-trailing plants like the upright begonias and fuschias and marigolds.
Also I will make sure I use a basket which is very big and very deep - it has water retaining compartment. There is incessant rain here anyway so I'm pretty sure it will get enough water. I will also use water retentive crystals. I will definitely make sure it gets plenty of water. The basket I am thinking of using can be taken off at any time and placed on a stand on the patio so I can always do that too!
I don't know if it will ever look as good as your hostas but will post pic
Thanks for all fab hosta advice :-)