Grow Luscious Leaves

When to Start: Spring
At Their Best: Early summer to early autumn
Time to Complete: 2 hours

Materials Needed:

• 4 pots of different sizes
• soil-based potting mix
• broken clay pot pieces
• slow-release fertilizer
• horticultural grit

• Hosta 'Francee'
• Hosta 'Krossa Regal'
• Hosta fortunei var. albopictaf. aurea
• Hosta 'August Moon'

Choosing Pots

First choose suitable containers. Hosta 'Francee' and H. 'August Moon' have spreading habits and suit wide pots, while H. 'Krossa Regal' is more upright and looks best in a taller container. H. fortunei f. aurea is small in stature, so select a little pot for this diminutive plant. Buy frostproof containers for your hostas — they are perennial plants and will pop up year after year.

Planting Up

Prepare your pots, and water the hostas well before planting. Add slow-release fertilizer to the compost and plant the hostas slightly deeper than they were in their original pots. Water them and apply a gritty mulch to deter slugs and snails.

Aftercare

Hostas like damp conditions and need frequent watering, especially in summer. Use about half a full watering can on each plant, so that the moisture reaches the bottom of the pot. Take precautions against slugs and snails, and feed annually.