Cutting back hostas?

TarHeels&Rebels

I have three hostas by my door that are looking incredibly bedraggled after this Hades-hot summer.  Lots of crispy margins. 

I'm having a party Oct 1 and would like to welcome my guests with something other than burnt hosta leaves.  I assume they can be cut back, so my questions are:

1) Is now too early in 7a? Should I wait until just a couple days before the party?

2) How far? to the ground?  I'd like to plant pansies in that area, so to the ground is kind of the answer I'm looking for.

Dr.Loretta

IMO hosta are one of the hardiest things around. I'd say go ahead and cut them down to the ground. I've had friends who accidentally mowed over them mid-summer and they came back fine.

+j+k+

I'd wait as long as possible - yes, a couple days before the party is probably best. 

You can cut them to the ground and they will be okay.

HOWEVER - you might want to check with your local plant nursery - I just saw that you are in the "Deep South" and this may be different for the south and too soon.  Right now is at the beginning of prime time to split and transplant hostas in the Midwest.

Another thing to consider - do your hostas get enough shade?  If not, then that's one reason why they look so bedraggled.Not just heat, but the sun. Maybe you should dig them up and transplant to a more shady area of your yard?  More shade the better.

living_insanity

DH ran ours over with the mower and now they are nice and cut back

lmdbww

Cut them to the ground. They'll come back. May not be a full plant by 10/1 but at least what comes up will be green.

~NB~

Dr.Loretta:

IMO hosta are one of the hardiest things around.

Wrong word - hostas are one of the TOUGHEST plants around.

 

FoxinFiji

Yup go ahead and cut them back.  Like one of the pp mentioned you might want to move those guys to the shade next year if you can.  Some hosta varieties do better in the sun than others.  I have some in full sun and some in pure shade and I just move them around until I find a location they like.