welcome to hostamania ....

they look fine.. thats about it for this season ... proper watering is about all they need .. and you can discipline them.. by throwing them on the driveway,.. if they displease you ... and then replant them ...

you have 2 to 3 times that number of hosta for that space.. they will need to be moved ...

so my best suggestion ... is to start building some new beds... so in early fall.. you can move them around ...

first pic.. thats an apple trunk ?? .... it looks more like silver maple ... i once gardened under an old apple ... and eventually.. the roots choked them out .. which is another reason to start some new beds ...

if you stick around this forum ... you will be enabled ... if not already ...

welcome ..

ken

They look good. Try to keep track of the names. It may become important later.

I agree with Ken. More space for those Hosta and more space for more Hosta later.

Welcome! I agree with Ken and Steve about moving several. The first few years, you may think the bed is too bare, so fill in with annuals if you want, but once they start to grow, you will be glad you separated them! Oh, and be ready to need more beds. This place will get you expanding and expanding! Most definitely an addiction.

Thanks for the kind welcome here.

It's a funny story how I even became interested in hostas.

I had this space that was a disaster area by my apple tree

And I discovered this adorable little plant poking out from between my neighbours fence and my yard.

a quick move then took place

and I was off and running to what I have now.

Still a work in progress of course

and that first one just sent out a spike today

Welcome! I hope you hang around and become as obsessed as we are lol! You are well on your way!

Welcome davidchance. Let the enabling begin!

If you're not already familiar with it, the hostalibrary.com is one of our most used resources, to view pics of thousands of named hostas. The home page has other resources you can go to, online mail-ordering businesses, lists, how to deal with growing problems, etc.

Welcome to the world of hostas! You're off to a fine start.

So this all started with a hosta rescue. Wonderful! You've definitely improved the look of that area.

all of us were new to hosta at one time too..even after many years and many plants we still love them and want more!..you will too!..they're great plants..I'm glad that your first hostas are doing well..

Yep, it all starts with one.

If you haven’t yet seen the annual alphabet threads here in the forum, be sure to tune in right after Christmas. You’ll see lots of beautiful hostas in lovely garden settings. Every few days Paula prompts us to post photos of hostas that begin with the next letter of the alphabet.... it helps us get through the dreary winter months, and provides lots of inspiration. In fact here’s one thread from earlier this year: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5569772/hosta-a-2018#n=45

Your little under-tree garden looks wonderful. It has a nice combination of colorful annuals and green foliage.

And this is how it begins ! First a few is all you want under or around a tree and bam , out come out more lawn, new beds go in and soon your hostas are so big you need more areas. We all have been in that same spot as you are now. Welcome and enjoy the fun with hosta gardens There are many companion plants that also are featured on this site that blend well and fill in while they grow crazy big.

Faye

Welcome, davidchance, what part of the country are you in? You can add your zone and state in the advanced setting of your Houzz account. It’s so great that you rescued your first Hosta!

Also - in your original post you asked about taking care of them and that it had been rainy.... when the rain lets up and it gets drier, just remember to water, water, water. It’s almost impossible to drown a hosta - except in winter when they go dormant.

I've kept all the plant tags so I know, except for that first donor, what I have. Hmm, turns out I know the variety of about 2/3. All of the ones I got from Home Depot just say Plantation Lilly, no variety. The rest are mostly Monrovia and they are variety labeled. I took a overhead pic and will label what I'm sure of.

I just started installing a drip setup for the rest of my garden, what would be best for the hostas? Would a mister work over the whole bed? Or go emitters right to each plant? Would it be a good idea to add mulch between the plants even though they are so close together?

If I had a do-over, what I would have done is setup a nice raised bed surrounded by some brick, would have eliminated all my issues with roots and the blocks around the area being all uneven. And I would have much more space too. I can at least start by removing the rest of those bricks. No need for them at all.

I am in Central NJ, zone 7a or 6 depending if I look up my zip on the map or in the zip search box.

And I can see the addiction starting. Thats why that space has gotten so crowded. lol At least hostas seem to be a bit cheaper then my other new like, David Austin roses.

I just started installing a drip setup for the rest of my garden, what would be best for the hostas? Would a mister work over the whole bed? Or go emitters right to each plant? Would it be a good idea to add mulch between the plants even though they are so close together?

==>> please start new posts .... with searchable titles ... for future reference ... for everyone ...

you asked a number of new questions above.. and there are some very wrong presumptions and ideas ... for those new posts ...

ken

Trust me when I say a raised bed will do nothing to reduce root competition for your Hosta. The tree will send the roots where the good soil and water is.

my 2 cents about raised beds surrounding trees..it's unhealthy to raise the grade around trees..trees should have basal flare..I see pics of brick/stone/wood raised beds surrounding trees with inches of soil and mulch burying the trunks..your plants look natural as they are..it's better for the tree that you didn't build a raised bed..

Your rescue from under the fence is likely Undulata Univittata. Yes a new post about irrigation will get you the best response for that topic.

Thanks for the reminder. I totally forget about leaving the tree flare.

Considering I am overcrowded with plants, I'm going to remove the remaining paver bricks around the back of the tree and expand this bed. When would be best to move the plants? What amendments, if any, should I make to the existing soil?

if you want to do it now I would..I've moved hostas in the summer and they were fine..I mulch with compost after planting..

Windymess—thanks for the alphabet days information. I was unaware of it. Now I will make sure I get a shot of all my hostas.

I'm also in zone 6a, adore hosta and have many. That being said I also have deer and Hosta are high on their list of favorite foods!