2006-08-13 15:12:16 · 8 answers · asked by Tammy 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
On this one you can do either. I myself cut the stalks after the bloom because the blooms have set seeds and takes the nutrients from the root below. Mine are around 4' across now and need to be split up. By cutting the blooms all the energy goes to the plant itself and not to seed production. Most times hosta are not started with seeds any way but taking parts of the root so why keep the ugly stalks when they do virtually nothing. Happy planting.
2006-08-13 16:02:28 · answer #1 · answered by ksr_2857 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After the bloom is finished, the stalk is a useless structure. You can cut it out at the base and compost it. If you don't care for the flower, it won't hurt to cut the stalks as soon as they appear. As another asnwerer said, the reproductive structures do take nutrients away from the lovely foliage, so loose them early, if you don't need them.
2006-08-14 09:20:43 · answer #2 · answered by bellgoebel 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Feel free to just trim them. I never wait until the stalk dies back, I just cut the stem after the flower blooms.
2006-08-14 08:40:44 · answer #3 · answered by Chrissy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The flowers stalks some people like and some don't. some people cut them off when they are blooming some wait till after they are done blooming. Either way is fine. leave them or cut them off. It doesn't matter. What ever you prefer.
2006-08-13 23:57:21 · answer #4 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you like the flowers, enjoy them and cut them back when they finish blooming.
The Victorians felt that hostas should be enjoyed for their foliage, so they never let them bloom. What a shame, sez I.
2006-08-14 19:33:27 · answer #5 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When they start to look ugly just cut them off. I know a lot of people that doesnt like the blooms at all and cut them off as soon as they bloom so it wont hurt them at all.
2006-08-13 22:23:13 · answer #6 · answered by quiltandpearls 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just leave them, they need the nutrients to be able to flower next year. When they have dies down completely then you can pull out the dead bits.
2006-08-13 22:17:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cut them after they finished blooming.
2006-08-14 16:19:56 · answer #8 · answered by sheeny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋