Thank you James! I agree with you... the way the new growth comes up it’s looking like separate plants

they have hosta roots.. not tree roots ... the hosta roots were NEVER under the rocks 2 or 3 feet away ...

winter itself had nothing to do with this ... but without a pic back in time.. i dont know how exposed it was ...

i would suspect crown rot from lack of proper water last year ... or excessive fertilizer to late in the season ... so that it did not go into winter.. properly hardened off ... too much lush growth too late in the season ...

dig it up immediately... bare root it completely ... remove all rotted stuff.. throw it around the yard while cursing appropriately ... lightly scrape the roots on the driveway ... and then leave it there for a few hours.. to teach it who is in charge ... repot and grow a new root mass.. and plant it in early sept.. insuring it is well tamped in.. so that it does not heave next winter ...

leaving it i a gob of rotting material.. is not approved ...

ken

Hi Ken, did what you said in addition I cursed at it in my best German accent. It’s sitting now in the shade for some time like you suggested. Do I have to cut those wierd looking “knobs” out?

There are in total 3 on every side of the root ball which means I would need to butcher the entire thing. I touched it and it feels soft & mushy.

It looks like you have experienced the same kind of winter as we have in Ontario. I also have a couple of hosta that have reduced in size and have had some smaller shoots growing rather than a few large ones like last year. I felt around the crown from the top and they were soft. I will also be removing the hosta and all of the media.

You must remove ALL of the soft crown of your hosta because that is rotting and could continue to rot the hosta. So if the "knobs" are soft or mushy, then they must be removed. If some of the roots are rotting (black parts), then you can cut the rot off. If most of the root is rotten, then cut that root completely.

I know it is disappointing when you end up with a much smaller hosta than you originally had. But that's mother nature for you and we have to move on and do what we can. Good luck!

Finished - think today was a good day to do the job since it’s going to rain and it’s overcast. Not much left - will post follow up pictures

I have this problem also this year. I will have to do this to about 4 plants. I am interested in seeing your follow up pictures.

the knobs as you call them.. were last years pips.. and the leaves were all attached to them ... they did not need to be removed... unless they were rotted ...

did you find any roots going out to the stones.. if not.. edumacate hubby ... lol ...

unfortunately.. i dont speak any other languages ... im wonder if german was extra strong ... though i have been told i curse in tongues ... so maybe i do ...

ken

Hi Ken, of course there where no roots there, but if I would tell him that he wouldn’t believe me