How to Effectively Kill Hostas Plants – A Comprehensive Guide

Hostas are a popular shade-loving perennial, prized for their decorative foliage. But their rapid spreading can sometimes make them a nuisance. If your hostas have outgrown their space or you want to eliminate them from your garden, you have several effective options to kill them off for good.

Why Remove Hostas?

Here are some common reasons for removing hosta plants:

• They’ve grown too large and crowded out other plants. Hostas spread aggressively through rhizomes

• You’re renovating your garden and need to clear space,

• You want to plant sun-loving plants instead. Hostas thrive in shade.

• The broad leaves harbor slugs and snails, which can spread to other plants.

• Deer are attracted to the foliage and can devastate the plants.

• You simply want a change from hostas. Tastes and garden plans evolve.

Hand Pulling Hostas

Manually digging up hostas is labor intensive but avoids chemicals. Follow these tips:

• Water the soil thoroughly first to loosen it and make pulling easier.

• Use a spade or shovel to loosen the soil around and under clumps.

• Wear gloves for protection and grip hosta shoots near the base.

• Pull steadily upward to extract as much of the root system as possible.

• Check for and remove any remaining roots or shoots over time to prevent regrowth.

Hand pulling is easiest when plants are small. Larger hostas may leave remnants that resprout.

Killing Hostas With Boiling Water

Pouring boiling water on hostas effectively cooks the plants.

• Boil a large pot of water. Allow to slightly cool so you don’t scald yourself.

• Wear protective gloves and carefully pour the hot water directly over the hosta roots and crown.

• The plant will wilt and die quickly. Roots may survive, so you may need to repeat.

This chemical-free method works best on smaller hostas. It will likely take multiple applications for mature plants.

Smothering Hostas With Plastic or Tarps

Smothering starves hosta plants of sunlight and oxygen.

• Cut away any flower stalks or seed heads before they develop and spread.

• Cover the plants completely with a thick black plastic sheet or heavy tarp.

• Weigh down the edges well with bricks, stones, or metal pegs. Leave covered for a full season.

The plants should die off fully in one year after being smothered, eliminating need for digging.

Using Herbicides to Kill Hostas

Chemical weed killers are fast and effective for getting rid of large hosta clumps:

• Choose a non-selective systemic herbicide containing glyphosate, like Roundup.

• Follow label instructions carefully for handling, dosing, and application method.

• Apply on a calm day to avoid drift onto desired plants. Glyphosate kills any plant it contacts.

• Reapply in 7-10 days if new growth emerges. Dispose of dead plants and roots when fully killed.

Take proper safety precautions like gloves and eye protection when using herbicides.

Vinegar as Natural Hosta Herbicide

Plain white vinegar makes a DIY natural herbicide:

• Fill a spray bottle with undiluted household white vinegar.

• On a sunny day, thoroughly coat hosta leaves, crown, and stems with vinegar.

• The acidity of the vinegar draws moisture out and dessicates the plant.

• Repeat weekly until the hosta is fully dead. Vinegar is non-toxic and won’t harm soil.

This slower method works best on younger or smaller hostas. Mature plants likely need a chemical herbicide.

Suffocating Hostas With Mulch or Compost

Burying hostas under organic matter deprives them of light and smothers growth.

• Cut down foliage so you have less material to cover.

• Cover the entire area 3-4 inches deep with a light blocking material like wood chips, shredded leaves, straw, or compost.

• Leave mulch in place for at least one full year. Check for and remove any new growth.

This slower passive approach avoids chemicals. It works best on a smaller area with small or juvenile hostas.

Burning Off Hostas

Flame weeding with a propane weed torch effectively incinerates hostas:

• Remove any dead leaves or debris before burning.

• Wet the soil first for fire safety.

• Lightly run the flame back and forth across all the hosta leaves and crown until wilted and burnt.

• Repeat as new growth emerges until plants are dead. Dispose of charred remains.

Take extreme care not to set unintended objects alight when using a weed torch.

Cutting Back Hostas

Repeatedly removing foliage weakens hostas over time.

• Cut all leaves and stems down to the soil line. Remove cut debris.

• Once regrowth appears, cut it all down again.

• Persistently cutting back new foliage inhibits the plant’s ability tophotosynthesize.

• The plant will eventually starve and die after multiple cuttings.

Cutting is slower but avoids herbicide. Use pruners, shears, or a mower over time.

Why Are Hostas Hard to Get Rid Of?

Mature hostas can be stubborn weeds because:

• Their extensive root systems allow regrowth if not fully removed. Rhizomes spread under the soil surface.

• The waxy leaves repel water-based herbicides. Chemicals don’t easily penetrate.

• They can regenerate from small pieces of left behind root and crown tissue.

• The broad leaves need thorough contact with herbicide spray to kill the plant.

• Hostas thrive in shade, so solarization with black plastic is less effective.

Persistence is key when removing established hosta plants. Combat any regrowth.

Avoiding Regrowth After Removing Hostas

To prevent hostas from returning after removal:

• Eradicate all roots and plant parts. Remove every trace.

• Monitor the area for any sprouts or new shoots. Remove immediately before they enlarge.

• Install a physical weed barrier like landscape fabric covered in mulch after elimination.

• Grow a dense cover crop like annual rye where hostas were to outcompete any remnants.

• Consider planting shrubs or spreading perennials to crowd out any latent hosta growth.

Removing hostas completely takes determination. But with diligence and the right techniques, you can successfully eliminate them for good. Enjoy your new hosta-free garden!