This is almost always due to a moisture problem... wet cold water sitting in the crown encouraging rot... or occasionally, as someone pointed out to me on a different thread, a dry rot - and both are usually a result of planting too deep.

Since it is a new bed, I'm suspicious that they might have been planted an inch or two too deep... or mulch washed in creating more depth after you planted, or whatever.

Please be assured I'm not being critical as I learned this by planting perhaps 30 crowns too deep on purpose - feeling all the while like I was being such a good papa, giving them extra protection in a particularly dry area.

I lose little ones to frost heaving and such, but if its an established plant that I lose, it is almost always the case that the crown ended up too deep.

Idiothe thank you for your response. Believe me my skin is not so thin as to take offense. :)

Although I don't think I planted too deep, I could be wrong. Add to that a new bed settling and mulch moving, that could have ended up the case.

Question about Liberty... In a previous post Chris said that Liberty should be planted at 2-3" below the surface. Mine was probably about 1 1/2" below the surface. What is everyone elses experience with Liberty and planting depth.

Any and all information/suggestions is greatly appreciated. I am going to need to replace this Liberty with a new Liberty because it was my main focus coming up to the front door and I don't want to kill another one.

TIA
Alexis

Hi,
I have had more losses w/ Liberty if it is not deep enough in well drained conditions.
Devon Green seems parculiar?
Is it possible the plants went in late, sat in a bucket of water too long, plants were immature to begin with?
Good Luck

Good questions Countrygarden. Liberty was temporarily planted, dormant, (got it from the refrigerator sale) around end of May, so it never sat in any water. It was then moved to it's permanent home probably around late August. I thought it was a decent size to start with and showed good growth while in it's temporary home. It sounds like, if I understand correctly, that it does need to be planted deeper than most other hosta. Is this correct?

Devon Green is a different matter, it was a relative small eye to start with (though not a TC) and it is possible this sat in water too long. I just can't remember for sure, but it is possible.

Based on this info can I assume it is safe to replant hosta in these spots?

Note to Self: Soak bare root no more than couple hours then in ground or in pot. Got it

Again Thank You
Alexis

Hi Alexis,
After this last year I have no doubts all hosta should be planted deeper than the level the crown comes from. I can look over trays of plants or in the ground. Anything w/ the crown burried is doing well. The others are either dead or setting out some really small eyes from under the crown. This is based on evalution of 2,500 plus plants. Yes, the soil should be well drained. Nothing extremely fancy, just "good" garden soil.

My experience w/ Liberty tells me if they are not real strong plants to begin with, send them back or don't buy. I found a nice three year old last year w/ three eyes. It went in midsummer. It is about to unfurl w/ seven of the fattest, chubbiest eyes I have seen. I had the soil about 3/4" to 1" over the existing level that the crown/eye comes from. There is also about 3" of mulch over that.

I sure see alot of 2 year old "greenhouse" hosta sold. You look at the darn thing and it starts to frown. Good Luck and pray like heck. They are just to vulnerable for life outdoors. Especially for the average gardner.

I think it is good to ask your hosta supplier just how old your plants will be. Make sure the age is determined by the number of years actually grown. I see advertisement for second year, third year...in reality they will just be going into those years. The age advertised is not true until the plant actually reaches full dormancy that late fall/winter.

A holding pen is a must for us. It gives us a place to put all our things immediately.

Should you get some questionable immmature plants, I strongly recomend you get them early in the season. Put in a place w/ strong morning light, good soil, a place where you frequent, moisture, dry between waterings, and move up in container size every 3-5 weeks. Plant them out around September first or sooner.

I say no to anything less than three years old. That experience has cost me thousands.

Take Care

Countrygarden, I appreciate your insights and the sound advice.

Unfortunately I don't have many (read 1) nurseries here that carry a decent selection of hosta, so I purchase more online than local. Fortunately, there will be an annual plant sale here in May and Naylor Creek will be there so here's hoping they have a Liberty.

Quick question. Are you saying it is better to keep small/tiny plants in pots till September. Right now all my babies are in pots in the house. I had planned on planting them directly in to the holding bed after the last frost date was well past.

Again, Thank you
Alexis

Hi Alexis,
You are sure a kind and curtious person, I like you!

I have better luck getting the roots "bulked" up by raising them gradually in pots. I worked at a greenhouse for quite a few years. The golden rule was to plant up progressively. Something about a plant not really growing until it can sense it's outside walls/environment. At that point they decide life is o.k. and start to send roots.
The little ones start in a 2 1/2"-3" pot for 3-5 weeks than to a 4"x5", something like that, doesn't have to be exact. Perhaps, it could be best descibed as having the pot 1/2-3/4 roots and the rest "good soil". I like to use pots that are deeper than wide for moisture. I don't recomend the Miracle Grow soil w/ fertilizer. It usually takes me until Aug-Sept before mine are ready to go into the garden.
I have found hosta needing this nurturing the most will have a lot of tiny, crisp white roots. As a plant gets older the roots will be caramel in color and large diameter (which you probably know). They seem to be o.k. for the garden, immediately.
I think you can plant in the same location.

Countrygarden thank you for the very kind words. You have been most helpful and I do appreciate it.

I use Mircacle Grow Organic Potting Mix (no fertilizer). I've tried to find the Pro-Mix that Ken and others have recommended but so far no luck.

I have learned much over the last 3 or so years from everyone here who is so gracious about sharing their knowledge.

Again, thank you

Alexis, go to this link and click on the distributor locator to find a Pro-Mix distributor near you...

Here is a link that might be useful: Distributor locator

Pieter thank you that was very helpful. Turns out the nearest distributor is 30 minutes away, thats not too bad. Well worth it to me for a product that has proven to be good. Sounds like a Saturday trip to me =) Besides there must be some nurseries over 'that-away' that I haven't been to yet.

Alexis