Liberty

Liberty- darn those slugs! This was expensive hosta for me. :-(Giantland Sunny Mouse Ears - burning quickly so I moved it back in the bed and am shading it with a styrofoam box. One little clump fell right off. Was that an eye? Should a took a photo of it.

Sage is burned as well,but not as much as the others.

Plantaginea and Marilyn seen to be holding their own.

Have you tried Sluggo?

Remember that these are first year plants with small root systems, so it may be transplant shock. I often provide extra shade for newly planted perennials in order to allow the root system to develop enough to replace water lost from the leaves, often using strategically placed lawn chairs. In sun leaves lose water faster than in shade. I have a group of hosts that get a bit mor sun than yours, but they are well established and had more shade until a tree came down in a storm.

Can you use shade cloth to shade them until they get more established? it would be ugly, but would give the new hosta a chance.

Don't know about the slugs, as I don't have that problem, much.

bkay

Ditto, protect from direct sun for awhile. I just use old umbrellas. Slugs: Sluggo, egg shells and beer cups. I have to use all 3 in combination and most disgustingly, I leave a squished one around and then kill the canibbal slugs that come to feast on it.

And I am a vegetarian!

I have tried sluggo and beer traps with very little success. The fall and spring vinegar and ammonia drenches really have made a HUGE difference this year, but I guess I can’t expect to kill every last one off. I appreciate the suggestions for some temporary shading and will see what my husband and I can rig up. I have burlap and that would work with some supports. Or I may just try using lawn chairs or both! Thanks so much to everyone.

debra

Debra so sorry you are having sun and insect damage. You said you planted end of May/early June. I think the sun was already pretty strong by that time and the plants are having a hard time adjusting to increase in sunlight. How much sun were they getting before they were planted? This year isn't a good indication as to whether the hosta will endure the sun and that location. Next year should be much better. Your idea of chairs to cover the plants or even a cheap umbrella could do the trick.

As for slugs, it is surprising that you are having a problem with them considering you did the ammonia spray and the fact that they are spaced out and also in several hours of sun. Makes me wonder whether slugs are not your problem, and, if so, where did they come from? Is there something nearby that they could hide in? But there are other insects that can damage leaves. Maybe it's not slugs!

I think you were the one who mentioned little holes in your Blue Mouse Ears. Well, I have 4 BME in three different locations---three are inground and one is in a pot. Only one BME has those small holes, and in that location, other hosta and plants have those holes too. But where I get a few hours of sun, no holes---the one in a pot, no holes. I will have to make a point of investigating at night time. I am thinking I have a problem with snails, rather than slugs.

djacobs, if the chew holes you're referring to, are what I see in the pics of 'Liberty', then I would suggest that they are more like cutworm/caterpillar, or nocturnal beetle damage, rather than slugs. I have a handful of different kinds of night time beetles that will chew on my stuff.

I would just keep them moist and alive. They are probably building up a root system and will be fine next year. I have some chewing and blame it on slugs and snails but it might be the cutworks too. They love the ligularia the best it seems but I don't have new hosta. It can be so disappointing after spending money and having them look all bitten up Maybe do a evening patrol with the flashlight and check things out , I collect them in an old cottage cheese container and salt the little devils and then flush them down our sewer . I may not get them all but it makes me feel a bit better if that counts.

Yes I thought Liberty looked more like cutworms, but I believe the drench kills them as well. I wish I could do more investigation at night but I am recovering from a hip replacement only 3 weeks ago. I am lucky I can get pictures at this point. My husband set up some umbrellas on stakes and I hope that helps. When I received the hostas, one vender told me to water them well when planted but then let them dry out. Seems everyone here is saying the opposite so I will be more attentive to that. The surgery was originally planned for April 6th. I would have been fully recovered by the end of May. But COVID came along and everything got postponed and of course hosta orders had been placed. Oh well, I am healthy and healing and that is good. :-)

debra

Sluggo Plus will kill earwigs and cutworms as well as slugs and snails. Do you have weevils, they notch the edges, Spinosad (Capt. Jack's Bug Brew) hand sprayed on the upper and lower sides of the leaves should help with any of those other chewing insects. Ammonia and Vinegar are contact killers, and you have to get the critter wet. You probably do have transplant shock, and they will be fine next Spring. Concern yourself with healing YOU first. Hostas are tough.

-Babka

Sluggo is good, IF the dumb birds and squirrels leave any on the ground. When I applied Sluggo in Queens, the dumb birds would immediately flock to my garden and gobble up the Sluggo as if I was putting out bird seed for them. Squirrels, too. the Sluggo Plus is POISONOUS to wildlife and potentially pets. I would never use it, even if the dumb birds ate the regular Sluggo. I eventually had to cover the Sluggo with a bit of mulch to hide it from the birds, or put it into ceramic little houses that slugs could enter, but birds and squirrels could not.

Happy healing Debra. It can be frustrating and you can only do what you can and the healing will go well with your physio . I had double knee replacement both at the same time and my husband was a dear but he sure as heck was not a gardener or a house keeper either but he tried really hard so that is all that counts Happy healing. I have used diatomaceous earth and it did help somewhat for my plants. Worked for some and not for others so not sure if there is a tried and true method for the nasty bugs and slugs. This year , I even had them hanging off the rhubarb plant with all the moisture we have

an established plant might be sun tolerant.. but new transplants not grown in sun.. arent ...

lets see how newly emerging leaves react ... keep them properly .... and deeply watered ...

imo.. cutworms are a spring thing.. they should all be gone by now ... from what i recall ... so i kinda rule them out ...

ken

First attempt to sun protect the plants.

Debra

Perfect! What a good husband!