does this look like sun damage?

16 years ago

I hope this is just sun damage and nothing else. My DH built the pergola last summer and in the fall all the infected oak trees were removed. So, basically there are no mature trees in the yard. This hosta gets afternoon into evening sun. If its sun damage, should it do better next year? I don't know its name. Here is a picture from last year and from this year, both taken in august.

Thanks,

Jodi

Featured Answer

i-like-to-grow

16 years ago

go ken.....I would say if you didn't want to move them into more shade next year...you would need to make sure you water them more next year...one good watering a week is sufficient...you need to make sure the soil stays moist as deep as the hosta roots are growing.. keeping the top 12 inches of soil moist is more than enough...One dry week should only dry out the first few inches of soil... so if you get it watered good initially... then every week give them a few inches of watering in morning...
Trying to water the ground and not the plants... soaker hoses and drip irrigation are the best forms of watering... watering in the morning is good due to slugs at night... and the damper the surface stays the more likely you'll run into fungus...
Sometimes though you just can't water enough...In that situation the heat and sun are too extreme for the varieties you have dessicating... In this situation the only thing to do is to move the hosta to a shadier location or plant or build shade... most hostas generally tolerate some sun... go outside at about 1pm then go outside at 6pm.... what parts of your garden get the most sunlight through these hours?.... thats where you don't want to plant hostas... If you do decide to move these hostas to a shadier location...you can do it anytime...and anytime you move a hosta... you need to make sure the ground stays moist as well... I would reccomend using a root dip as well if you are moving it before August...search the forum for Kens post on moving a fully leafed out hosta....good luck and happy gardening!
John

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Comments (10)

aahostas
16 years ago
Jodi,
Yep, good ole summer melt out. Next year, probably again.It is time for the hostas to start declining.It is natural process and can only be delayed by shade and water for so long before they will do their thing with or without you. The spots on the leaf are generally caused form hail or something that punctured the leaf.The burned edges are sun or heat dry out. I wouldn't worry about it .Here in Southern central Illinois the Hostas are looking much worse than yours due to extreme heat and no rain for over 3 weeks.
I would be delighted to have mine look as good as yours do.

Denny
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
no its not sun damage.. per se ...

it is sun and heat and lack of water damage ....

white tissue is flimsy.. weak ...

the plant has failed to pump enough water to the weak tissue in too much sun ... on really hot days ...

dont limit your diagnosis to one single issue.. or the first that pops into your head ..

i have about 1000 that look twice as bad as that one.. for all the above reasons...

ken
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
all what john said..

or just come to the understanding that it is nearly SEPTEMBER!!!!!!

and the season is all downhill from here ...

continue to water thru fall.. but understand.. this is not their prime season ..

ken
jodikay
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, I guess I was overly concerned. It has been rainy nearly every week this summer but has also been hot and humid. Since this plant is near the front of my pergola, its getting afternoon soon which is hot. My understanding is, is that even though there has been plenty of rain, I should have been giving it extra water becase of the afternoon sun/heat. I guess moving it is a consideration.

Jodi
mosswitch
16 years ago
A lot of mine look like that. Too hot I think, with temps in the triple digits, as water is not an issue, I water mine long and deep. I have been pulling off the worst leaves, now they don't look too bad.
schoolb1
16 years ago
I don't know what is wrong,but I do know that they are beautiful hostas!!If you can please give me the names of the ones you can,because I need white in my hosta beds, Judy
jodikay
Original Author
16 years ago
Judy, thanks for asking. The top one is Cherry Berry, the bottom is Stiletto and on the right may be ? Patroit. The left one is unknown.

I like this combination together.

Thanks for all the comments.

Jodi
i-like-to-grow
16 years ago
Kinda looks like June
John
countrygarden01
16 years ago
Hi Jodi,
Cherry Berry..the nicest I have ever seen.[:

If you can grow a hosta like that, you are in good shape!
Take Care, Rick