GenAcres Homestead

  Two Free Soil Amendments - -   Leaf Mold and Compost Every gardener knows the health of their soil is one of the most important factors in achieving a successful gardening season.  Here are two FREE renewable resources that you have on hand that will save you money and build up your soil!

   Dividing Hostas in the Summer Although spring and fall are the best times to divide perennials like hostas, you can divide them successfully in the summer.   Here are the most important steps to follow to ensure a healthy summer division.

    Hostas - Perfect for Hypertufa Planters! If you are new to working with hypertufa to make great garden art, planters and the like, you may want to read our Hypertufa 101 articles first.  Read:  Hypertufa 101 . Hypertufa planters are great for plants. They do not heat up in the sun and they are porous which will allow the plant's roots to breathe.

g There are many reasons that hostas remain one of the most popular perennials for a shady garden.  One of the main reasons is that hostas not only survive but actually thrive in shade. Hostas actually give their best performance in moist soil and partial shade whether they are planted in the ground or in a pot or container. Don’t confuse “partial shade” with “deep shade.” No hosta is going to thrive in deep shade. All hostas need some sunlight to photosynthesize. The perfect setting for hostas depends on their leaf color.  Blue, green and variegated hostas will do better in slightly deeper shade, while yellow and gold hostas need more light to bring out their colors. Hostas with more substantial foliage will accept full sun in cooler zones, provided they are given ample and constant moisture. So if your shady garden needs some pizzazz, read on! First, why ARE hostas so popular? Here are just a few reasons to start with. Variety of Sizes Mini Height

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  Best Hostas for Zone 9 Since most hostas require a minimum dormancy period of 30 days at temperatures below 43 degrees Fahrenheit, hostas grown in the low-chill winter zone of Zone 9 will emerge, but may become weak and may continue to deteriorate during the subsequent season. For hosta lovers located in the warmer zone of Zones 9, finding a hosta that will perform well in your area can be a bit more difficult.

Here at Sunset Hosta Farm.com, we ship all our hostas bare root.  Nearly all companies that ship perennials do the same thing.  Why?  Simply, postage costs.  It saves money in shipping and keeps our prices low. Shipping bare root doesn't hurt the plants in any way.   Minuteman Hosta Here's how they're prepared for shipment.   The hostas we send have a healthy root system.  First, all or most of the soil is washed away from the roots and the leaves are sprayed clean. Next, the roots are wrapped in a damp paper towel so they won't dry out in shipping. The plant is then wrapped in a bread bag type sleeve and tagged with the name of the hosta. For the large and extra-large hostas, the leaves may be cut back for shipment.  Depending on the time of year the plants are ordered, large-leafed hostas could already have grown up to two feet tall.  The top growth will grow back quickly because it will have a good size root syst