Content
Many growers face difficulties when choosing plants for a shady area. Hosta Fest Frost is the perfect solution for this situation. This is an unusually beautiful deciduous shrub that will be the perfect addition to a flower bed or flower garden.
Description of hosts Fest Frost
It is a compact deciduous plant. The height of the bush is up to 40 cm, and the width is 60-70 cm. At the same time, the length of the leaves can reach 14-16 cm. It grows best in partial shade, in the sun the color of the bush fades.
The leaves are very dense, dark green in color with a yellow border on the sides. In the spring "Fest Frost" is brighter. Due to the color, it seems that the sheets are covered with frost, which is why the name of the described variety came about.
Hosts "Fest Frost" are medium spreading. They do not need a garter or support to shape. The neat appearance remains until late autumn, until foliage begins to fall from the bush.
The plant has a beautiful edging on the leaves, in early spring the border has a yellow color, in the summer it is soft milk
Hosts are not demanding on the composition and nutritional value of the soil. In one place, he can be up to 20 years. In the future, a transplant is required.
Flowering occurs in late July - early August. During this period, the bush is covered with light lavender flowers. This is another important decorative feature of the Fest Frost Hosta. Flowering lasts an average of 3 weeks.
The plant tolerates low temperatures well. Therefore, it is popular with flower growers from regions with different climatic conditions. Also, the Fest Frost variety is resistant to diseases and pests.
Application in landscape design
Hosts look good in flower beds and flower beds in combination with other ornamental plants. They are often used for framing or zoning plots, as well as for decorating artificial ponds, benches and other summer cottages.
Usually hosts are used to add pomp. Therefore, they are planted in places where there are few bright colors. The host is suitable for multi-tiered flower beds and decorative compositions. Fest Frost goes well with other varieties.
Among them:
- Francis Williams.
- August.
- Golden Meadows.
- Wide brim.
- Whirlwind.
A flower can become both an independent green plant, and part of a beautiful composition.
Shade-loving hosts also pair well with lavenders, peonies, lilies, daylilies and gladioli. Representatives of the Fest Frost variety feel comfortable next to phlox, lungwort and irises. Together, these plants can beautify any home garden.
Breeding methods hosts Fest Frost
It is best to increase the number of bushes by cuttings. This procedure should be carried out in April-May, with persistent warming. It is necessary to select an adult plant and separate several young shoots from it. They are planted in a nutritious soil mixture of river sand, garden soil and peat. When the shoots germinate, they need to be transplanted to a permanent place.
Another proven breeding method is dividing the bush. It is very effective for Fest Frost hosts as it has a powerful root system.
Division Algorithm:
- Dig in the bush from all sides.
- Extract it along with the roots.
- Clear underground shoots from soil.
- Rinse the roots in water and let dry for 2-3 hours.
- Divide the host into 2 or 3 parts.
- Transfer to a new place in compliance with the planting technology.
Dividing the root system is the most popular way to propagate hosts
You can propagate the hybrid First Frost host using seeds. It is one of the few plant varieties that produces fertile seeds for planting. They are planted in April in sterile potting soil. Normally, the seeds germinate after 2-3 weeks. They need to be placed in a place well lit by the sun. Transplanting into the ground is carried out 2 weeks after the appearance of ground shoots.
Landing algorithm
Hosta grows well in all types of soil. It is best to plant in a mixture of humus, clay and a small amount of sand.
Planting is recommended in the spring season. When the last frost has passed, you need to prepare the soil. A hole is dug at the chosen place, 20-30 cm deep and 60 cm wide. This soil is fertilized with organic matter (compost, manure or droppings). You can use ready-made compounds, for example, "Kemira-wagon".
Planting method:
- Fill the prepared soil into the pit.
- Let it brew for 3-5 days.
- Dig a hole for the seedling.
- Fill in a drainage layer (if necessary).
- Place the seedling in the soil mixture so that the roots are 5-6 cm from the surface.
- Sprinkle with loose earth.
- Water with a small amount of settled water.
- Sprinkle mulch around the seedling.
Hosts are shade-loving plants, do not tolerate direct sunlight
It is not recommended to plant the Fest Frost host in autumn. The reason for this limitation is that the plant may not have time to take root before the onset of frost. The opposite picture is also possible. Because of the warm weather, seedlings form shoots, which in the future will certainly die due to the cold. Therefore, it is better to plant in the spring.
Growing rules
In order for the Fest Frost bush to grow well, complex care is required. Hosts are not demanding plants, however, this does not mean that they do not need to be looked after.
Fest Frost is a moisture-loving variety. The plant can suffer from lack of liquid, especially in dry summer weather. The fact that the hosta is experiencing a water shortage is indicated by the darkening of the tips of the leaves. Excess fluid is also not recommended to prevent root stagnation.
Each bush requires at least 10 liters of water, ideally 30 liters. Then the liquid will saturate the soil by 30-50 cm, providing nutrition to the roots.
For irrigation, you need to use settled water at room temperature. The frequency of the procedure depends on the weather conditions. In a drought, you need to make abundant watering at least 1 time per week.
To ensure the flow of nutrients, it is necessary to periodically feed. For this, a complex fertilizer from organic and mineral components should be used.
Periodically it is necessary to fertilize with organic substances
For 1 host you will need:
- cow dung - 10 l;
- ammonium nitrate - 10 g;
- superphosphate - 20 g;
- potassium sulfate - 10 g.
This mixture will provide the nutrients you need. It is necessary to carry out top dressing in the spring when early shoots appear, after the end of flowering and in late autumn when pruning.
Fertilizers can also be applied by mulching the soil. To do this, use humus, crushed dry grass, bone meal, straw and peat. Mulching is carried out as the soil is compacted 1-2 times a season.
General rules for growing hosts:
Preparing for winter
The Fest Frost variety tolerates cold well. But this does not mean that winter preparation is optional. It starts in August or early September. During this period, you need to cut off all the flower stalks so that the hosta does not waste nutrients on the formation of seeds.
Despite the fact that the plant tolerates frost well, it still needs to be covered with spruce branches.
After this procedure, fertilizer is applied with phosphate and potassium. In this case, the bush itself must be treated with a fungicide in order to prevent the appearance of pests.
In the fall, before the onset of cold weather, the soil at the base of the bush is mulched with humus, sawdust and mixed with peat. In winter, they will protect the roots from the cold, and in spring they will serve as an additional fertilizer. It is recommended to add tobacco dust to the mulch, as it scares away slugs.
The host "Fest Frost" is covered with light brushwood for the winter. Spruce branches work best. They keep snow well, creating reliable protection for the bush.
There is no need to trim the leaves at the Fest Frost host before winter. This procedure makes the plant weak. It is necessary to remove old leaves in the spring, when new shoots appear.
Diseases and pests
The Fest Frost variety is resistant to numerous diseases. However, in rare cases, the plant can be damaged by infections.
Among them:
- gray rot;
- phyllostictosis;
- rust.
These diseases affect the appearance of the leaves, leading them to dehydration. Treatment consists in removing the affected areas and treating the bush with fungicides.
Snails are afraid of the smell of dill and garlic
Of the pests, slugs and snails are dangerous to hosts. To combat them, special baits are used, which are placed in places far from the bushes. Pest deterrent solutions are also used. Slugs are intimidated by garlic, dill, roasted coffee beans and sage.
Conclusion
Hosta Fest Frost combines excellent decorative qualities, simplicity and ease of growing. This variety goes well with other plants, therefore it is actively used to decorate flower beds and flower beds. Caring for the bushes is straightforward, which is why hosts have become very popular. An important advantage is resistance to cold, pests and diseases, due to which the plant remains viable for a long period of time.
