Hey Karen. where about are you in WNY Z6? That's where I am, in Buffalo. My yard isn't anywhere near doing anything with. Hosta's in the ground still covered with leaf mulch and nothing showing above ground.
Do you by any chance belong to the WNY Hosta Society? Putting in a whole new bed this year and redoing some of the other beds around the perimeter of the yard. Have about 30 pots of babies in the garage to be planted this yr. This a great forum and you will get lots of good advice. They are a very friendly bunch and are always ready to help anyone out.
Welcome to the forum!

Hi Karen. I'm in WNY Z6 too. I'm in Buffalo. Glad you're seeing some pips in your yard. None coming up in mine. Still covered with leaf mulch and pretty wet. Putting in a new bed this yr. and redoing some of the others. This a great forum and you will get plenty of good advice. Everyone is very experienced in growing Hosta's and a very friendly and funny bunch. Welcome to the forum.

Welcome back, Kalija.

Sorry, I'm too far removed from you to be any help. Someone from the great frozen north will chime in with good info, though.

bk

If you see what you say is hairy,that is the top of the crown of the hosta. All you have to do is put a little more soil around them,but do not bury the crowns,just cover the exposed roots,and it will be OK. I occasionally have hosta that rise up above the soil,and mine have always made it. Phil

Kalija,

The hairy stuff is remnants from last year's petioles. The pips you are seeing are covered by a cataphyl which is protective material around the pip. If you begin to see those pips elongate and become more green then you can cover them with a frost blanket or a pot or whatever you have to protect them from frost. If you see exposed roots then you can cover them with a bit of soil or mulch, but there is no need to dig up Hosta at this point, unless you want to move them.

When in doubt, leave them alone. More Hosta are killed by too much "love" than by neglect.

Steve

When you cover up an exposed hosta which is doing well with too much, you could invite a fungus. That happened last year with one of my large H.'Blue Umbrellas'. I could always see the crown over winter, and then I put extra mulch around them which might have created damage due to standing water.
Bernd

we need a pic ...

but i dont understand... they have been there all winter long.. they look fine.. and so... what??? ... you want to mess with them.... whats wrong with that???

crowns are supposed to be exposed on the soil.. and the pips on top of that ...

and since you make no mention of the roots below exposed ...

then i simply dont know why you would mess with them..

frankly.. it sounds like they are properly planted.. rather than too deep ...

pic please

ken

Thank you all! So it sounds like they are ok. I don't think the roots themselves are exposed, just very close to the surface - I will double check to make sure. Its dark out there now! I was just woried to see them exposed like that. Some areas are still frozen. Ken, I don't have a pic right now - I will have to take a one later. Thank you!