Do hostas need winter protection?

Question:

Do hostas need winter protection?

Answer:

Most hostas do not need winter protection if they have been in the ground for at least one full growing season.  However, a winter mulch is often beneficial to hostas planted in late summer or early fall.  Repeated freezing and thawing of the soil in the winter months may heave late planted hostas out of the ground, causing serious damage.  An application of several inches of clean, weed-free straw or pine needles in mid to late November will help to protect late summer/early fall planted hostas over winter.