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Can I Plant Hostas Close to the House?

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By Rich Finzer, eHow Contributing Writer

with their various foliage colors, leaf textures and blossom colors, hostas can make ideal bedding plants to grow near your home. Hostas are

also sometimes referred to as plantain lilies. But regardless of what
you call them, they are relatively easy to grow, and there are hundreds
of hosta varieties to choose from. However there are several factors
you should keep in mind before planting them.

Soil

Hostas thrive in moist well-drained soil. If the soil near your house is sandy or contains a large amount of clay, you may need to add
organic matter to your planting area. If you have it available, you
might till in a large quantity of well-aged compost or bags of
commercially prepared potting soil or topsoil. Adding peat moss can
also enhance the water retention capability of the soil. Water the
plants on a regular basis, particularly when they are first getting
established. Don't over water them; plan instead on increasing the
frequency of watering during the hottest part of the growing season.
This will prevent them from wilting or developing brown spots on the
leaves.
Plant and Bed Size
Hostas range in size from miniature varieties that only grow to a height of about four inches to monster specimens, such as Alex Summers
Hosta which grows to a height of three feet. Another large hosta type
is Blue Angel, with individual leaves as big as three feet wide. If you
are a hosta lover who prefers the larger plants, you may need to
enlarge your planting space to accommodate them. Also keep in mind that
some large hosta varieties may grow to a width of six feet or more. So
it may not take many to fill in your designated planting area. The size
of the hosta you choose should also be considered when deciding whether
to plant them close to the house.
Planting Location
Most hosta varieties grow best when they receive either indirect sunlight or the cooler morning light. Many hosta types will turn brown
and die if exposed to the hot burning rays of the afternoon sun. Other
hosta varieties, such as Patriot or Independence, must be grown in a
completely shaded area, but there are some newly developed cultivars,
such as August Moon and Dark Star, that are quite sun-tolerant.

The variety of hosta you select may be dependent upon your proposed
planting location. It might be wise to ask the nursery or plant dealer
for suggestions on which varieties would have the best chance of
survival. Typically, a planting area close to the house would be shaded
for much of the day, so this may be a good place to plant hosta, so
long as you don't choose the side of the house that receives the
afternoon sun. Matching the type of hosta with the appropriate planting
location is the key to thriving hostas.