Melinda’s Garden Moments: Holes in Hosta Leaves

Nationally known gardening expert Melinda Myers helps everyday gardeners find success and ease in the garden through her Melinda’s Garden Moment television segments. Melinda shares “must have” tips that hold the key to gardening success, learned through her more than 30 years of horticulture experience. Home gardeners throughout the country find her gardener friendly, practical approach to gardening both refreshing and informative. Here, Melinda shares garden tips which expand on the information provided in her one-minute TV segments.

New topics will be added throughout the growing season, providing timely step-by-step tips on what you need to do next in your garden! To view online streaming video of Melinda’s Garden Moments, click here.

Holes in Hosta Leaves

Holes in Hosta leaves – they’re a common sight no matter where you garden.

Slugs are the most common culprit, but there are other possibilities.

Start by reviewing the weather. Frost damage, hail, and even falling maple seeds (many call “helicopters”), can damage these plants. Monitor the weather and the progression of the damage. No more holes – it’s most likely one of these.

Sink a can of stale beer in the ground near your Hostas or check under rocks and birdbaths in the morning. If slugs are the culprit, you’ll find them there. Continue trapping with the beer or try the eco-friendly iron phosphate products.

Earwigs are the other possibility. They prefer cool, dark and damp conditions like slugs. Set a crumpled paper out under a pot to trap. If present, you can live with the damage or try one of the more eco-friendly insecticides.

A bit more information: Holes can also result from some diseases. For example, Anthracnose fungal disease causes large irregular spots with dark edges. The dead leaf tissue in the center of these spots often falls out. Avoid overhead irrigation, especially late in the day and remove infected foliage to reduce the spread of the disease.

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