What diseases or pests are found on Hostas?
Hostas are virtually disease-free, and the major pests are slugs and snails. They chew holes in the hosta leaves and make them unsightly. The slugs leave slime trails or shiny squiggly lines along the soil and they are most active at night and on cloudy days. One method to control these creatures is to pick them off by hand and drop them in soapy water. Not any fun to say the least; too goody and icky. They like to hide on the undersides of the leaves. Another method is to place small trays filled with beer, with the rim just above the surface of the soil. The yeast in the beer will attract the slugs and they will HOPEFULLY fall in and drown. They are not good swimmers. Another method is to place bricks or boards in your garden and look under them each morning. Slugs need to hide during the heat of the day and seek tight spots like under boards. Collect them and smash the little buggers. : ) An effective control is diatomaceous earth. It is a powder of the finely ground shells of ancie
