the stems photosynthesize.. so leave them ...

no prob getting rid of the uglies ...

they should be starting to put out a second flush.. from the crown in july ... and also growing new roots to store energy for popping out of the ground next spring ...

no... leaves will not sprout from petioles ... leaf stems ...

i think that covered all your ???

ken

Listen to ken......as ugly as my leaves get, if they do, I leave them because ken has told me the same thing! :-)

debra

im thinking about frost damage in early spring ... and how removing just a couple bad leaves ... can really make the plant look all that much better ...

but i dont recommend cutting down the whole thing ... because to releaf.. it will use too much stored energy .. and probably come up smaller next spring ...

ken

Some of my hosta's are quite large. I have no problem removing ratty leaves. If they come back smaller next year they would be doing me a favor. However, it hasn't happened that way yet, lol. New hostas, in their first couple years, need their leaves and I try to leave them. If they were brown I would remove them otherwise let the new ones keep what they have until they are established.