"Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...
This thread reminds me of another question I have about hostas. I have
a bed of hostas on my property line. About two weeks ago, my neighbor
replaced his privacy fence and in the process of applying preservative
to the new wood, some over-spray drifted onto the leaves of my hosta
plants. I think he used some kind of oil-based stain on his fence,
although I'm not sure exactly what it was.
So far, the leaves look ok, although they are obviously spotted with
the preservative. Does anyone know if this will cause any permanent
damage to the plants? It seems to me that hostas may put up only one
set of leaves per season, so I doubt that any new leaves will appear.
Thanks for any info you might have.
Gary

I doubt that it will cause any problem. I have splashed oil base deck stain
on hostas without any consequences. I find that hostas tend to grow in
three stages over the year. the first stage consists of sending up new
leaves in the spring, predominately from the periphery of the plant. These
leaves mature and then the stems elongate somewhat, opening the center of
the plant. After that, new growth emerges from the center of the plant.
Towards fall, there is new growth at the outside edge of the hosta. That is
my observation, but others may have a better understanding. I do think that
if you cut off all the leaves, new ones would emerge.