Key Points
Yes, generally speaking, you should always cut back your hostas in the fall.This will discourage overwintering pests, like slugs, and help promote healthy growth.Use a clean pair of bypass pruners, and cut the stems to about 2 inches above the soil.
Pruning is an important step in garden maintenance, especially for hostas. Cutting back brown leaves will not only benefit your yard aesthetically, but will also help reduce the risk of pests and disease. Trimming away spent foliage will even redirect the hosta’s efforts toward healthy root growth, so it won’t waste any energy on dying leaves.
However, before you grab the pruning shears, it’s important to consider timing. Cutting back hostas at the wrong time can do more harm than good, after all—so should you add it to your fall gardening checklist? Here’s what the experts have to say.
Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University and author of Plants Are Speaking. Are You Listening?
Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins
Jan Johnsen, co-principal of Johnson Landscapes & Pools and author of Gardentopia: Designing Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces
Cutting Back in Fall
Yes, generally speaking, you should cut back your hostas in the fall. During this time, the foliage will turn yellow or brown, and it will start to collapse.
“Removing this dying foliage helps prevent fungal diseases and discourages overwintering pests, such as slugs, that like to hide in the decaying leaves,” says Jan Johnsen, co-principal of Johnsen Landscapes & Pools. “It also reduces messy, slimy leaves that you have to remove in early spring.”
Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University, recommends waiting to cut back until after a hard freeze.
Waiting for Spring
There is a case to be made for waiting to prune your hostas until spring. “Early spring is ideal if you skipped fall cleanup,” says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins. “Cut away last year’s mushy leaves before new eyes emerge. Cut back as new shoots are just visible.”
However, for a “slug-free, tidy hosta bed,” Johnsen still recommends cutting back in the fall.
How to Prune Hostas
Pruning hostas is a relatively straightforward process. First, make sure you’re using a pair of clean bypass pruners. This cleanliness is key, as it will prevent potential diseases from spreading.
“Using one hand, collect all the stems of the plant,” says Langelo. “Then cut the stems all the way to 2 inches.” You can then reuse any healthy leaves as compost.
Common Pruning Mistakes
Pruning hostas seems easy enough, but there are a few errors that can quickly add up and become a real problem. Here are a few:
Cutting back before the first frost: Always wait until after, as this is when the plant is truly dormant.Tearing by hand: Always use pruners. Removing leaves by hand can also pull out the roots, or invite rot.Leaving a mess: Make sure to remove any leaves suffering from pests or disease in particular—leaving them around can lead to future problems for your garden.Cutting green, healthy leaves: These leaves are still feeding the roots. Only cut back brown or yellow ones.
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