Perennial plants like hostas are known for their appealing foliage and low maintenance needs. However, occasionally, youll need to get rid of these plants in your garden. There are various ways to accomplish this. If you prefer a more hands-on method, you can choose to pull them by hand. Chemical solutions like weed killers and more natural approaches like vinegar are also options.
There are many good reasons to get rid of hosta plants, even though they can add lush foliage and a touch of elegance to shady parts of your garden. Pests like slugs, snails, and even deer are known to come to hostas. These animals may then eat other, weaker plants in your garden. They don’t spread disease, but they do grow quickly and can take up more space than you planned, which can throw off the design of your garden.
Additionally, if youre thinking of giving your garden a makeover, hostas could prove to be an obstacle. Their preference for shade might conflict with your plans to introduce plants that require full sun exposure. Finally, don’t forget that gardening styles and tastes change over time. The plant that seemed perfect a few years ago might not fit with your plans for your outdoor space now. For these reasons and more, pulling hostas out is the best option.
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:
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They’ve grown too large and crowded out other plants. Hostas spread aggressively through rhizomes
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You’re renovating your garden and need to clear space,
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You want to plant sun-loving plants instead. Hostas thrive in shade.
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The broad leaves harbor slugs and snails, which can spread to other plants.
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Deer are attracted to the foliage and can devastate the plants.
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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:
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Water the soil thoroughly first to loosen it and make pulling easier.
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Use a spade or shovel to loosen the soil around and under clumps.
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Wear gloves for protection and grip hosta shoots near the base.
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Pull steadily upward to extract as much of the root system as possible.
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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.
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Boil a large pot of water. Allow to slightly cool so you don’t scald yourself.
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Wear protective gloves and carefully pour the hot water directly over the hosta roots and crown.
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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.
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Cut away any flower stalks or seed heads before they develop and spread.
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Cover the plants completely with a thick black plastic sheet or heavy tarp.
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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:
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Choose a non-selective systemic herbicide containing glyphosate, like Roundup.
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Follow label instructions carefully for handling, dosing, and application method.
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Apply on a calm day to avoid drift onto desired plants. Glyphosate kills any plant it contacts.
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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:
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Fill a spray bottle with undiluted household white vinegar.
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On a sunny day, thoroughly coat hosta leaves, crown, and stems with vinegar.
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The acidity of the vinegar draws moisture out and dessicates the plant.
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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.
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Cut down foliage so you have less material to cover.
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Cover the entire area 3-4 inches deep with a light blocking material like wood chips, shredded leaves, straw, or compost.
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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:
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Remove any dead leaves or debris before burning.
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Wet the soil first for fire safety.
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Lightly run the flame back and forth across all the hosta leaves and crown until wilted and burnt.
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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.
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Cut all leaves and stems down to the soil line. Remove cut debris.
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Once regrowth appears, cut it all down again.
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Persistently cutting back new foliage inhibits the plant’s ability tophotosynthesize.
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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:
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Their extensive root systems allow regrowth if not fully removed. Rhizomes spread under the soil surface.
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The waxy leaves repel water-based herbicides. Chemicals don’t easily penetrate.
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They can regenerate from small pieces of left behind root and crown tissue.
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The broad leaves need thorough contact with herbicide spray to kill the plant.
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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:
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Eradicate all roots and plant parts. Remove every trace.
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Monitor the area for any sprouts or new shoots. Remove immediately before they enlarge.
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Install a physical weed barrier like landscape fabric covered in mulch after elimination.
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Grow a dense cover crop like annual rye where hostas were to outcompete any remnants.
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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!
Natural methods: pulling by hand and using vinegar
Pulling hostas by hand is your first and most straightforward option for getting rid of them. To facilitate this task, start by watering the soil to make it more pliable. As soon as the ground is wet enough, use a spade or shovel to loosen the soil around the hosta. Grasp the plant firmly at its base and pull it out. Cut off as much of the root system as you can to stop it from growing back. This method works best and is easiest when the hostas are small and the soil is damp. If the soil is dry, it can be hard to pull out the whole root system.
If you don’t like doing things by hand or want to avoid chemicals, you could use the boiling water method. Boiling water weakens the plant almost instantly upon contact. Pour it carefully over the hostas, targeting the base of each plant to maximize impact. This technique is particularly effective on smaller, less established hostas. Always remember to wear protective gloves and long sleeves to keep yourself safe and lower your risk of getting burned or hurt in other ways. Lastly, another effective herbicide is vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar and coat the hosta leaves generously. The process works best when done on a sunny day, because the sun’s heat and the acidic vinegar kill the plants faster.
How to Kill Hostas
How do you kill hostas?
To prevent them from growing back, leave the plants under sunlight for a few days to kill them permanently. If you see any roots re-sprouting, dig them again or cut or pull out the roots from the ground. Indeed killing hostas takes longer; cutting them instead of digging up is a better option.
How do you remove hostas?
One of the most common methods for removing hostas is to dig them up. This method is ideal if you plan to replant them elsewhere or divide them. To dig up hostas, follow these steps: Water the soil around the hostas the day before you plan to dig them up. This will make it easier to loosen the soil.
Can fungicides kill hostas?
Fungicides on the market are ineffective against infected plants, but they could prevent the disease. Spray the plants with fungicides labeled for hostas that contain sulfur, azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, tebuconazole, or triticonazole in the early spring.
Why do I need to remove hostas from my garden?
Removing hostas from your garden can be necessary for a variety of reasons, whether it’s due to overgrowth, the desire for a change, or issues with plant health.