Can You Transplant Hostas in June in Maryland?

June Garden Climate

• June is neither the hottest nor the driest month of the year in Maryland. Although Maryland’s June record high, 105 degrees Fahrenheit, is too hot to dig, average highs in the mid-80s and lows in the low 60s are more typical. The hosta, an old-fashioned shady-place plant, is hardy throughout Maryland’s U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5b through 8a. Older varieties and many hybrids are hardy from USDA zones 3 through 9.

Transplant Process

• Moving a hosta is simple -- dig around the plant, lift the root ball gently, trim broken roots and reset the hosta in a planting hole lined with three or four handfuls of compost mixed with garden soil. In June, take extra care to keep roots moist. Use a garden fork rather than a spade to lift the plant. Take more care and time to minimize damage to roots that are supporting top growth. Trim damaged roots and plunge them immediately into a bucket of tepid water to soak off dirt. Soaking also helps when dividing plants -- you should be able to pull the crowns apart with minimal cutting -- and keeps the roots hydrated until you reset the hosta.

Considerations

• Hostas -- even late bloomers -- have leafed out completely by June, making gentle handling imperative. It also means that divisions will have uneven leaf canopies for the summer or, if it’s a variety that continues to grow new leaves, until the plant adjusts to its new configuration. Remove flower scapes to lighten the demand on roots. While trimming roots or dividing crowns, lay the top of the plant on a newspaper-covered bench with leaves hanging over the edge. Work in the shade with a spray bottle at hand to keep roots moist. Don’t trim damaged leaves until you’ve replanted the hosta.

Shock and Awe

• Any transplanting shocks your plants, and they’ll droop for several days. A drink of water each day for a week or so aids recovery. Maryland’s average rainfall for the entire month of June is only about 3.5 inches, so proactively make up the rest of the inch per week your perennials need. Always water deeply to encourage root development. If you plan to move your plant or its offspring to a location with more light or open shade than its previous location, plant the divisions in quart-sized perennial pots and park them in the shade during July and August. Water potted hosta starts daily, and plant them by mid-September to early October, depending on your elevation and hardiness zone. You’ll enjoy awesome plants next spring.