How terrible! I don't have answeres for you, but wanted you to know I feel your pain. Hopefully next year will be better.

Connie

So sorry to hear that!I wonder if they just do not like where they are planted.What was your weather like this summer?I agree with Connie,better luck next year. If same thing happens, post again,hopefully we can help, Judy

I can think of 2 possible causes:
clay soil
Planting too deeply. Hosta should be planted with the crown at ground level.

Are either of these likely?

What are the varieties that you have and how long have you had them?

How was the water situation last year? I've heard drought can affect next year's growth pretty drastically and that's what I'm afraid I'll be facing next season.

Where are you? (what state?) If you don't get cold enough in Winter they don't get enough dormancy. Have you had them for more than one growing season? Can you dig up one or two of them and see what is going on underground?

You said they lost their leaves, but also that there was no wilting or yellowing. Did those leaves just turn crispy and dry up?

We can help if you give us more information.

-Babka

I live in the western part of Milwaukee. All but 3 of the plants have been in the present location for many years. Nothing remarkable about April, May, June. July had a lot of rain, August very little. We water the plants if the leaves start turning brown. Very little leaf loss thsi year.

I do not know the names of any plants except Frances Williams. The soil here is sandy, very little, if any clay. The leaves are mostly all there, but the leaves are small and the stems few. Many of the leaves are full of small holes. I assume these are insects. Some plants have no holes in the leaves. ALL plants are not thriving.

Did you experience those back-to-back-to-back extreme rains in July? You say that your soil is sandy ... it may be that heavy intense rains washed the organics and nutrients out of the root area. If that is the case, you could work compost in around your plants and top dress with more compost.

Any chance that voles or chipmunks have been eating on the roots?

Yeah thats what I was think manyhosta... have you dug one up and looked at the roots? Take some pictures of this disaster and post them for us... if you need instructions... just ask... we'll all be glad to help...
Hey Melissa.. I love you dear.. but hostas will grow in clay soil haha...
John

Does the present location have a large tree? What kind of tree? Have you ever fertilized these hostas? You really do need to dig a couple up to see what is going on...show us what you see.

-Babka

I looked again. The sequence seems to be: all summer the plants did not progress at all. No new growth after spring. Then the leaves started getting holes about 1/4 inch diameter. (I thought they were insect holes, but could never find insects.) Next the whole leaf disappeared except for the veins. All that is left are bare stems. I dug up one, and the roots look fine.

I think this may be a disease that clogs the veins and kills the leaf. Every plant got the holes, but not all of them lost the entire leaf.

A neighbor has a different plant that the same thing happened to. Any ideas. If not, wait till spring.

First, sorry you are having trouble with what are generally pretty much trouble-free plants, so take heart and hang in there, this fine group will divine the answer(s) . . .

My first thoughts are these:

The little holes in the leaves sound like one of hosta's few but infamous pests, slugs. You will find all sorts of discussions about that here and elsewhere, and they are controllable, and certainly NOT killing you plants.

From my mere 13 year experience (trust me, there are much more experienced growers here), I immediately thought of tree root competition. Maples are the most infamous, though we learned the hard way that Red Pines are almost as bad.

Insidiously, this sometimes takes a cupla years to manifest itself, but again, there are ways to make all well, so stay in touch, O.K.?

We'll make it worth your while, Hosta folk are tenacious and very giving, helpful folk!

hh

Last year the hostas in one of my beds got blister beetles. I never saw any insects on them, but I came across this picture, which looked exactly like the damage my hostas had. The leaves were basically shredded, until the hostas were mostly gone. Fortunately, they didn't get them this year.

Deanna

Here is a link that might be useful: Blister beetle damage on hosta

I'm in the same general area and my hostas were fine, so doubtful climate was an issue. Since last year was so good, I would expect the decline to be more gradual if it were a nutrient issue. Any herbicides/weed and feed put down by you or a neighbor? Lawn service done on a windy day?

tj