How to Overwinter Hosta Plants

21.08.2023 - 16:39 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren

How to Overwinter Hosta Plants

Every year I tell myself I’m going to embrace the winter season and enjoy the process of putting my plants to bed until the following spring.

And every year, my attempt at improving my attitude is seriously challenged when it comes to saying “goodbye” to my hostas.

They are such a reliable, ever-present part of my spring, summer, and fall garden that it feels like watching dear friends depart on a months-long holiday without me. Don’t go!

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Hostas, unlike me, need to experience a period of frost to grow and flower their best.

So we don’t need to protect them from the cold. But there are things we can do to encourage healthy growth next year.

Potted specimens need more care than those in the ground. They’re a bit more exposed out there.

Think of it like the difference between living in a tent and living in a well-insulated house – that’s how the roots feel in a container versus the soil.

If you need a refresher on how to grow hostas, check out our guide.

Here are the steps we’ll discuss to protect your hostas in the winter:

As with all perennials, your USDA Hardiness Zone and the plant’s Zone rating dictate how you should care for your plants.

A Zone 4 to 8 hosta cultivar grown in Zone 6 is going to need less fussing over than the same plant might if it was grown in Zone 4.

You should also keep microclimates in mind. Every garden has its own microclimates, and they can impact the work you need to do.

In a cozy spot protected from freezing wind and extreme variations in temperature, you can probably skip the mulching step, for instance.

Some areas gather more moisture, some are