Something ’s eat up your hosta plants . You find ragged edge , long brown streak or holes on the commonly shiny green leaves – all signs of a potential pesterer infestation . genus Hosta are comparatively resistant to insects and other pests , but nematode , weevils , grasshoppers and snails , as well as cervid and rabbits , can make a repast out of these popular perennial .
Snails and Slugs
According to the Ohio State University Extension Service , snails and slugs are the most common genus Hosta gadfly . They aggress at nighttime and go away behind small holes in plant leave . A bright , slimy trail on the leaves is another dependable indication of a escargot or slug infestation . To battle these pests , scatter metaldehyde lure around the plants . Some gardener also have had achiever with beer ambush . come in a crushed container replete with beer near soil point . The beer attracts the snails or slugs , which descend in and drown .
Nematodes
Two types of nematodes tone-beginning hostas . Foliar , or leaf , nematode worm go after the leaves , while root - knot nematode penetrate root social organisation . Leaf nematodes are microscopic worms that bore into leaf tissue paper , provender on the plant cells and lie eggs that hatch into raw nematodes . These nematodes create brownish streaks and spots on leaves . Foliar nematode travel on water droplet , so keeping hosta leaves wry help insure infestations , as does removing any damaged leaf . ancestor knot nematodes make mile or rancour on roots . They can also stimulate plants to wilt or stop growing . The Iowa State University Extension service says that origin knot nematodes are difficult to kill with traditional nematicides . cautiously inspecting any plants before you buy or engraft them is the good bar .
Insects
folio beetles , grasshoppers , cutworms and grownup black vine weevil will jaw hosta leafage . Both grasshoppers and black vine weevils rust from the leaf ’s edge in , while leaf beetles startle at the shopping mall between vein . The leaf beetle ’s eating habit resemble snail and slug hurt . Cutworms , which are moth larvae , sometimes target hostas growing in a dry , sunny garden . These pestilence tunnel up from the ground at night to gnaw muddle through young , curled - up leaves . The most harmful dirt ball threat comes from contraband vine weevil larvae . These unfledged insects will go through the hosta ’s theme and crown , make serious damage . The American Hosta Society remark that menage wrens are a near natural balk to insect pests . Put up birdie house and supplying bird seed to attract them . you could also spray Diazinon for cutworms or Sevin for other insect .
Deer and Other Animals
Deer will run through Hosta – sometimes intact plants . Other animals that will consume Hosta let in coney , squirrels and field mouse . Rabbits will nibble on the shoots and flowers . Squirrels , according to Ohio State Extension , are most likely to eat genus Funka plants during a drought and sometimes will uproot plants . Voles aggress the roots . control condition brute predators with fencing or wire cover . To deter deer , spray deer - repellant chemicals on the genus Hosta leaves .
