What's eating my francee hosta?

Francee Hosta is a prime target for slugs and snails, which shred its crisp white-edged leaves overnight. Deer browse the foliage to the ground, and vine weevils notch leaf margins. The thick, white-bordered leaves also attract hosta virus X via contaminated tools. Slug control is the top priority for this cultivar.

Ragged, irregular holes through leaf blades, often worst near soil level; slime trails on foliage and soil Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around crowns at dusk; lay copper tape around pots; hand-pick after dark; remove mulch where slugs hide by day

Entire leaves and stems browsed to stubs, especially in spring when new growth emerges Spray foliage with deer repellent (capsaicin- or egg-based); install motion-activated deterrents; fence the bed with at least 8 ft barrier

U-shaped notches eaten from leaf margins; grubs in soil destroy roots, causing sudden plant collapse Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late summer/autumn; pick adult weevils from foliage at night; use vine-weevil-specific compost drench

Clean-cut stems and leaves at ground level, especially on young growth in spring Surround beds with wire-mesh fencing buried 6 inches below soil; use rabbit repellent sprays; plant denser borders to limit access