What's your question? Ask

Yes, many northern gardeners enjoy hostas. They go dormant in winter and re-emerge in spring.

You can toss a blanket/towel over them. Frost may damage, as in disfigure or turn brown, the leaf tips but will not kill the plant. Hosta with thick leaves may not suffer at all. Usually temps need to reach 28 F for several hours before damage is done except in very frost intolerant plants.

I would only cut back growth that has almost fully died and turned brown. You can leave these alone for now, as they will likely replace them as soon as the weather remains warm.

This article will give you more information on the care of these: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/hosta/growing-hosta-plants.htm

White leaves can't perform photosynthesis, the plant's food manufacturer. Remove non-green parts and lightly fertilize if you didn't earlier in spring. The plant will send up new shoots. It may not bloom as vigorously this year.

Some varieties of hosta are rated for zone 3. More varieties survive zone 4 winters. The plants die back to the crown (goes dormant) after frost as a way of surviving winter. Winter mulch lessens the risk of heaving. Hosta do not tolerate drought without watering and most varieties don't do well in full sun. In general, cold winters and warm summers are favored by hosta.

I have heard that Russian sage and Salvia deter deer but I have no evidence that they work. Another problem is that the growing preferences for hosta are very different from most herbs but it is worth a try. Here is an article by Oregon State Univ. on using herbs as deer deterrents. Good Luck! http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/herbs-rescue-fend-deer-aromatic-plants