When to Plant Hostas: Tips for Timing, Transplanting, and Growing Happy Plants

Few greeneries are as easygoing as the hostas, so it’s no surprise that these faithful foliage plants are such popular garden additions. Knowing when to plant hostas isn’t critical—pretty much any time during the growing season will do—but certain seasons tend to fare better than others. Here’s when to plant hostas, plus additional ways to ensure they thrive.  

When to Plant Hostas

Hostas are vibrant plants that add eye-catching greenery to any yard or garden. But when is the best time to plant them? Take a look at the seasons below for all the details. 

Spring

Like many healthy garden plants that thrive with early spring planting, this is the ideal time to get your hostas in the ground too. The sun is cooler while still being plentiful, giving your young hostas lots of time to grow strong enough to withstand summer’s intense heat. The extra spring rainfall is also nourishing for growing hostas, as their soil needs constant moisture (without being soaked).

Once the soil becomes workable, and the danger of frost has passed, you can plant both bare-rooted and potted hostas plants with great success. If your area has a rainy season, however, you should get your hostas planted well beforehand.

Autumn

Autumn is the second-best time to plant your hostas, ideally in early fall, just as the hotter temperatures subside. Planting too close to winter won’t allow adequate time to establish a healthy root system before going dormant. The many freeze-thaw cycles of winter could lead to root rot.

If you’re planting in autumn, try to stick with potted hostas rather than bare-root plants. Potted hostas will have a more developed root system, making them hardier and more capable of handling a cold winter.

Summer 

Summertime can work for planting hostas, but it isn’t ideal. Newly planted hostas are highly susceptible to plant heat stress, so warmer regions should avoid planting during this time of year.

Cooler regions should wait until early August to plant hostas, avoiding temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Warmer regions, such as the southern U.S., should wait until late summer to early fall.

Winter

The winter months aren’t the best time to plant hostas if you want to ensure healthy growth. New plants need time to grow healthy roots before entering winter dormancy, and the longer you wait, the less time they’ll have. Again, the freeze-thaw cycles of winter can cause baby roots to rot and die, so you’re better off going with early spring or early fall.  

When to Transplant Hostas Plants

Once you’ve got happy hostas that have fully matured—which usually takes about five years—you have the option to divide them and transplant them to share with your neighbors or begin a new garden.

This is best done in spring or early fall, though spring’s rainfall is helpful for keeping your new transplants watered. Avoid doing it in the summer, as the soil is often drier and the heat can be harsh. 

How to Plant Hostas

Planting hostas is pretty straightforward. When planting from a pot, dig a hole deep enough to plant it at the same depth as the pot. Bare-rooted plants should get a hole about twice the width and depth of the root ball.

If you’re planting multiple hostas plants, space them according to how large they’ll get. Don’t be shy with the elbow room—hostas are excellent at filling gaps.

Where to Plant Hostas

Know that you know when to plant hostas for the best results, it’s time to talk about where to plant them.

Hostas are plants that love shade as long as they get a few hours of sunlight per day. They do best in spots with partial to full shade and can take two or three hours of morning sunlight. If the spot gets any more than that, or if it gets exposed to hot afternoon sunshine, this could cause hostas leaves to burn. Choose a shady spot with fertile, well-draining soil, and your hostas are sure to thrive.

Plant predators—specifically deer—are another thing to consider when choosing where to plant your hostas. Deer will munch mercilessly on your hostas' foliage, so be sure to plant it in an inaccessible area or behind a physical barrier.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Hostas

Hostas relish fertile soil that’s rich in organic matter, so feeding with fertilizer is important for healthy growth. Consider amending your soil beforehand with composted leaves and animal manure. 

You can also look for a slow-release 10-10-10 NPK ratio, which refers to the balance of the main nutrients in fertilizer: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). 

Apply fertilizer as soon as you plant your hostas and reapply every three months, or as often as it says on your fertilizer’s instructions. Once new growths emerge in spring, lay down more fertilizer and start the cycle again.

If you run into problems when planting hostas or need help keeping them alive and thriving, hire a local gardener or lawn care company in your area.