The Best Thing You Can Do for Hostas After the First Frost

Key Takeaways

Cut back hostas after the first hard frost to protect next season’s growth and avoid disrupting the plant’s natural energy cycle.

Removing dead leaves in late fall helps prevent pests and disease, giving your hostas a healthier start in spring.

Use clean shears to trim stems a few inches above ground, tidy up debris, and add mulch to protect roots through winter.

Gardeners love hostas for their “set it and forget it” maintenance schedule, and because these yard stars really know how to put on a spectacular show. Like many outdoor plants , though, their lush green foliage starts to fade once the weather turns chilly—this is when many gardeners give them a good trim.

Here, we asked gardening pros why cutting back hostas in late fall is so important and how to do it right