Hostas put on one of the best foliage displays in a shade garden all summer, but they aren’t particularly attractive once cold weather arrives. After a hard frost, those broad green leaves can quickly collapse into a yellow, brown or slimy mass lying over the soil. That’s normal: hostas are herbaceous perennials that go dormant and return from their crowns when conditions warm again. However, cutting back hostas after frost correctly can help remove places where pests and some plant problems may persist through winter. The trick is knowing when to cut, what to remove and what you shouldn’t accidentally damage in the process.
