ken, (it's really hard not to capitalize that) again, it depends on where you are. If you're in warmer areas it shows up much earlier. The photo below was taken June 8 or before. When I posted the photo, someone in zone 7 had seen them two weeks earlier. So, we're talking mid May.

Since they don't show up at your house until September, I understand your nonchalance. However you should also understand the alarm in warmer areas. If you were watching them look ugly and infect your other hosta from mid May on, you might have a different attitude. It's a lot of work to control those little nasties, at the very least.

bk

Ken, TWO months, that is the end of October in my zone 5. So I want good looking hostas for those 2 more months, and spray every week.

We will have 10 days of heat coming with 2 days at 92. That will zap quite a few of leaves. But I agree, the damage by slugs and snails and heat is much larger than by nematodes.

Maybe we can adopt for us in the colder climate, I agreed with Ken... There's no way to stop them once you find one in your garden.

Just a thought, maybe some won't appreciate this but...... Growing some varieties of hosta in zone 8 is kind of pushing the limit of the ability to thrive. I have struggled here trying to grow plants with hardiness only to zone 5 where I garden. I have had losses because of colder than normal weather and just don't try those plants anymore. I love my hosta and understand why everyone does love them. I wish I could successfully grow lavenders that thrive in warmer climates. I am just thinking that plant losses are a fact when pushing the limits and losses have to be accepted and decide if it is worth it to keep trying.

It's just a fact of life. No matter what you grow there will be drawbacks. To me a few nematodes, slugs, sunburn, deer and nasty teenagers are worth putting up with to enjoy my hostas. I am far less tolerant of other plants and tend to dig them up and just toss in the neighbors ditch when I decide they are not worth the effort.

Sherry, you are right about zone appropriate plants. Although I've had few problems until the last couple of years, this one may be enough for me to throw in the towel. That's not the point, however.

The point is that a pest has invaded someone's garden and they are unhappy. If someone were being invaded by rabbits, would you just say, "they are mostly a problem in the spring, so ignore it". If voles were eating someone's hosta roots, would you say, "Well, there are lots of voles out there. They don't eat all that much"?

You and ken have no experience with foliar nems, except late in the season. I understand they don't bother you that much, as your season is short.

Show a little empathy for those in different circumstances or with different opinions, will you?

bk

Bkay, I do understand and have to deal with a different set of problems where I live and I stated I understand why you love these marvelous plants. I have also read that some varieties of hosta are not bothered as much by these little pests. I will have to catch up on my research and add which ones are best in warmer climates and add this info to my post. With my problems here I just felt I had to change the way I did things or be forever frustrated by the results, gardening is supposed to be a joy and most of the time it just wasn't. Off to research!

Just looked this up again and found that Plantiginea has shown to be very resistant to these little buggars. Possibly its "offspring" would have some resistance. Maybe just another way to have some nice looking ones most of the season .

sherry

deleted post

Sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone here, not my intention. You are right, I have never gardened in Texas. Usually the discussions here are related to experiences good and bad and there are always suggestions made. Pardon me for making a suggestion, it won't happen again here.

Sherry

You are completely out of line, bkay. If you don't like someone's opinion/suggestions ignore them.

sherry, you have nothing to apologize for....you were not the one making rude comments.

Bkay, I have genuinely expressed my sympathy for your hosta maladies this year and have felt your pain when reading about them, but I am compelled to say that I feel your "wrath" (for lack of a better word) has been misdirected.

Peace.

Apology accepted. I felt you weren't experiencing as much joy in your garden this year as you should, didn't know how much research you had done and was trying to take a positive spin on the possibilities out there. Hope you find the answers to your problems.

Sherry

Have you try Aspirin spray Bk?

What is the aspirin supposed to treat? I know nothing about it.

I'm still not sure what the problem is. Some hosta are still in decline. Others are not effected. I'm waiting on a report from Texas A&M on two samples. I'm still not sure what the problem is or how I got it. I think it's some kind of root rot, but don't know the specifics.

It may be weather related, as it was so wet in the spring, but I don't think it's zone 8 related. I've visited with two other local hosta growers and the only thing they fight is Southern Blight. This is not Southern Blight, as the petioles stay attached to the crown. In SB, they fall off.

Bill Meyer said I had some kind of root rot. I might also have root knot nematodes, but that is not what's causing the main problem.(not a direct quote, but close)

It's really frustrating not to be able to get an answer.

bk