I've had it with hostas

I've decided that much as I like the beautiful leaves ( I love foliage), they're just not worth the effort. Slimy lace is not my thing
I've got plenty of ferns and they'll make a good substitute of no interest to slugs.
I'm not sure what to do with the pots of hostas. I'm not quite ready to compost them. I'll shove them in an oubliette down the far end of the garden for now. They are 'living' in very large pots that I might find a use for in the future. Their days are numbered.

 

Take photos of them, put them into large plastic bags and advertise them on your local Freegle. They’ll be gone in a day or two.

 

Assume you have tried Friendly slug pellets, copper tape and garlic spray etc ? they do work for us until they start going over in late summer.

 

Tbh I can't be arsed anymore. @ricky101 Ferns. You just put them in a pot and water them now and again. No slug problem and some will even stay in leaf over winter

 

Yes, we also have lots of ferns in the shadier spots with some Hostas.
You could consider some of the Heucheras in pots or soil to add a bit of colour variety, they don't seem to suffer much from slugs and snails.

 

@BB3, I know where you are coming from. I am often tempted by a lush looking hosta, but I resist buying because the angst outweighs the joy. I have been loyal to the one I bought 20+ yrs ago and have spent I don't know what on stuff to keep it from destruction, but you are right about ferns being a lot less bother. I have loads of those and they are things of beauty.

 

Love ferns, like hosta but I'm not going out on nightly patrols or buying anything to protect ours (luckily they can't be seen unless you look for them). I've not got round to removing them but you could take a leaf out of the slugs book and try eating them, they are in the asparagus family.

 

Hi all

copper mesh is the latest thing have a google

 

Hi vine weevils had all of mine apart from one which I rescued Heucheras

 

Copper mesh is fine for pots, but doesn't work for hostas in the ground, unless you can ensure none of the leaves touch anything else that can act as a bridge.

 

I love my hostas but also try to be consistent with night raids...after about 15 days of night raids on every other evening the numbers are that low that minimal damage happens. It costs me zero in buying stuff for them that way, but we have to be honest that if you don't have the time to fight the slugs and snails then better off planting something else. Not all plants are for everyone.

 

Admittedly, I lacked vigilance. Stopped all but desultory snail picking a couple of weeks ago.
Today, I removed the hosta pots. There must've been about 30 snails, two fat slugs and half a dozen small slugs.Slugs snipped and snails in council bin. (Have ceased to snail stomp as OH reckons it attracts flies. He may have a point).
Hostas pestless and in garden Rwanda for now.
Ferns in place. I find that I need more . Oh goody.
Whilst putting the ferns under the huge container fig tree, I find that it has that new-fangled web producing bug ( I can find the name if anyone is interested) again this year so I might not need shade- loving plants in the future.

 

If it's Red Spider Mite on the fig, try a predatory mite..Phytoseiulus. Although it's recommended for greenhouses, it should work OK outside in London in summer. It's much more effective than any spray treatment as the mites are resistant to them now.

 

It's not spider mite. Can't remember what it's called but it's a gift from Europe.

 

This is it. Apparently from Africa not Europe

Have you checked your Fig Tree recently?

@noisette47