Papou~

In my garden, Knockout still looks good. Don't have the other two. We have slugs like never before, perhaps because of the amount of rain in July, after spring drought. Slugs are everywhere, even on top of 4' lilies. I haven't been as diligent with the Sluggo, so it's my own fault. Last year I had no slug damage. It looks like you have a much worse problems with slugs. Ugh! Hate them so much. Love killing them SO much. Squirting them with ammonia, stepping on them, squeezing them, piercing them, knifing them, tossing them onto the patio to fry, etc. etc.

My sympathies to you!

~Bunnycat

Oh my goodness, Nancy!!! I need to loan you my 'Hosta Rage' graphic! The mental image you have just painted
is hysterical!!I am such a *visual* person that I won't be able to wipe that out of my head for the rest of the day!!LOL

But--really---my sympathies to you both!!!ahem!

You do suspect that the damage IS slugs, right, Papou?

So while the page is loading I am thinking, after reading your title.."Oh My Gawd!! What happened to Pappy! Tornado!...Hail? Cattle stampede?"
And you show me a little slug damage amd perhaps some summer melt out.
NBD!
Give them a little alfalfa tea, water well, sprinkle some sluggo and they will likely put out another flush of leaves before frost. And the slugs will die like the dratted varments they are!
Linda C

My first thought when I saw the title was that he had a herd of deer come through. Worse than slugs.

In fear of incurring the wrath of Knockout haters,I will tell you anyway. Knockout is one of my best growing hostas! Which proves what a lot of others have said,including me,"not everyone can grow every hosta!" Just MHO, which means little. Phil

I thought NEMATODES--which are my worst nightmare, next to voles!

I always have 1 or 2 with the Uglies but this year the SLUGS are horrific. Alot of just plain Yuck out there now. I think cause the only place green around these parts is where I water cause we get NO rain. I agree with you on Knockout though Mine finally knocked itself out and I finished it off. Phil Hats off to you on your success with that one. Everyone has something a little different in their yard--it's what makes this forum interesting to me anyway. Pat yourself on the back Phil, you might have the nicest one anywhere. My Brim Cup used to be nice but UGLY this year. I'll blame the weather LOL

Knockout and Snow Cap have a reputation for doing just what we see above. U-G-L-Y.

My Sitting Pretty is a meltout nightmare. Ditto on Morning Light.

I'm at the point where any hosta I don't LOVE...I ditch. Ta-ta!

I'm getting quite a few hostas with holes like that this year even though I've been diligent with the ammonia spray.

A member of my garden club said she thought it was slugs until she caught EARWIGS on her hostas. She's been catching them with beer traps but I have so many hostas now I'd have to set out a half-barrel and a waiter!

Char

I have all my Yellow Sweet Potatoe vines looking like those hosta and I've been wondering if it may be Earwigs!!!

Yikes!!!!! Another varmint to add to my *hit list*!!! Sigh!

P.S. I meant to say that NEMATODES are my worst nightmare, and NEXT are the dog-gone Voles!

Japanese Beetles have also been doing a number on lots of plants in our area this year. Many leaves on trees and bushes look WORSE than swiss cheese...they are mere skeletons.

Char

Japanese Beetles! GRRRRRRRRRR.....We've really only had them for the last couple of years even though my sister 15 miles south of me has had major infestation for much longer. I have lots of perennials and have been keeping a close watch on what they enjoy eating. I've thinned down my coneflowers a bunch because they love them and they especially love Mallow plants. Since the mallow is so invasive, I've decided to leave them a nice patch to attract them to mainly one spot where I can find them to DROWN as many as possible!

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here's my Knockout from earlier this year. It still looks good,but these are the dog days of summer around here,so it is a little weather worn.Rats! I forgot to resize it! Old habits die hard. Phil
{{gwi:1057654}}

A little slug damage could be remedied with a little slug bait, but the marginal tearing that Snowcap and Knockout get make them not worth growing. Knockout and Snowcap have rounded leaves that often reverse cup and tear making them ugly plants, even without the slug damage.

Wide Brim is a definitely a nicer looking plant and a great grower.

The size looks great for me, Phil!!!

Oops, just reread. Sorry Phil, I thought you were sharing a picture of Wide Brim as a better choice. That is an amazing plant of Knockout.

Yes, that's impressive enough that I would probably forgive it when it hit "ugly". lol

Char, loved the half barrel and waiter comment. lol

My Snow Cap went to Hosta Heaven last year and now, after looking at yours Papou I'm not sorry........sorry about yours though!!

Phil your Knockout is beautiful, wouldn't think it was the same plant as Papou's.

June

Thanks Chris...you just confirmed my intention of discarding Snowcap and Knockout. They are definitely coming out of my garden....and as you say, they are not worth growing...
My reasoning is that there are so many other nice varieties now available for us to buy and enjoy.

Papou

I agree,Chris,that Wide Brim and Knockout look a lot alike,but if I look closely at mine,I find that Knockout has a little rounder leaf form. My Wide Brims have more pointy leaves. Phil

Papou, I would be happy to take those two off your hands. Just let me know how much postage is. That applies to anyone who has undesirable hostas as I have just begun collecting. :-D *innocent grin of desperation*

Of course, we are in the middle of a major drought. All the rain keeps going north to PA,NY or south to VA,NC. :-( My water bill this quarter is going to be truly scary!!

Jen
jlsmith0519 at gmail dot com

Jen,

I'm going to e-mail you if that's ok with you.

Connie

Sure, no problem.

My Knockout has been lovely, until this year.(4th or 5th yr?) The cupping and tearing are awful!!! However, after my 15 minute hail storm, it looks better than many.

My Snow Cap is finally starting to look good here. This one is planted here in 2003.

These photos were taken on 5-19-07

These were taken on 7-30-07