Hosta – Hail Damage vs Slug Damage

Q: Can you identify what is causing the damage to my hostas? I just noticed it today and we had a small hail storm yesterday. But could slugs have caused the damage?

A: It’s definitely hail damage. Slugs eat the edges of leaves but hail goes right though the leaf tissue, leaving it shredded. Your damage isn’t severe but if more storms occur, follow these tips:

Use scissors to cut off at the base any leaf stem that has less than half of a leaf attached to it. If more than half of a leaf is attached, leave it alone until you can see what happens in the next week. If it begins to dry up, remove it.

Due to the possibility of spreading disease, disinfect your pruners with alcohol between each cut.

New leaves will slowly sprout from hosta plant crowns and it will fully leaf-out next year.


hail damage


hail damage


slug damage


slug damage

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