What to Do with Hostas After They Bloom

The American Hosta Society recommends cutting off each scape after three-fourths of the flower buds have opened; this keeps the plants from diverting energy into setting seeds for the next year so instead they’ll grow more roots and leaves.

What to do when hostas finish flowering?

Deadheading. The flower stalks can be left in place until plants are tidied up in late autumn when the leaves naturally die back. Alternatively, they can be removed once the blooms fade to save plants wasting energy on seed production.

Do you cut back hosta plants?

They are often cut back during early fall cleanup. Hostas will flatten out and get mushy after they have been frosted a few times — that is when I would clean them up. While it is a good idea to cut back hostas in very late fall, I often run out of time and do not cut them back until spring with no harmful effects.