Hosta 'Patriot' in November: monthly care

Hosta 'Patriot' requires very little pruning in the traditional sense, but it does benefit from seasonal tidying to keep it looking its best and to maintain plant health. The main task is removing old foliage in autumn, specifically in October or November, once the leaves have been blackened by the first frosts. At this point the plant is entering dormancy and the foliage has served its purpose. Use clean secateurs or garden shears to cut back all the frost-damaged leaves to ground level. This autumn clear-up is important for two reasons: it removes potential hiding places for slugs and snails over winter, and it tidies the border before the dormant season. Hostas are herbaceous perennials that die back completely, so don't worry about cutting too much—new shoots will emerge fresh from the crown in spring. During the growing season, remove any damaged, torn or slug-eaten leaves as you spot them. Cut these right back to the base of the leaf stem to keep the clump tidy and reduce the risk of fungal infection in damaged tissue. If individual leaves become badly scorched by unexpected sun exposure, remove them in the same way. After flowering in summer, you can deadhead the spent purple flower spikes if you wish, cutting them down to the base. This is purely cosmetic—hostas are grown primarily for foliage, and leaving the faded flowers won't harm the plant. However, removing them does keep the clump looking neater and prevents energy being diverted into seed production.