Slugs and snails can be kept off Hostas by raising them high up or setting them in gravel.

Hostas are a versatile and attractive genus of garden plants; used and loved by gardeners. Unfortunately the large succulent leaves that make them so attractive are also irresistible to slugs and snails. This has led to an all-out war between gardeners and gastropod, with peace loving elderly spinsters turned into pathological nocturnal hunters. In an attempt to keep the Hostas safe many ploys have been tried, including raising them off the ground. It doesn’t work, I’ve seen snails more than 2 metres up vertical brick walls. Sadly gravel is no more effective and so far the only reliable way I have found is regular use of chemicals.