Collection: Ferns

A perennial plant, ferns come back each year given the right conditions. There are both evergreen ferns that retain their foliage year round, as well as deciduous ferns that die back in winter, before growing back again in spring.

Naturally found in woodlands and forests, ferns are typically happiest in partial to full shade. That said, they can also generally tolerate full sun provided their soil/compost is kept consistently moist.

Ferns can be plotted at any time of year, but spring and autumn are the preferable seasons. Conditions are least likely to be extreme (either hot and dry or cold and wet) during these periods, and will give the plant the chance to properly bed itself in before any more severe climatic conditions.

While most ferns tend to fare better in the open ground, that’s not to say you can’t grow them in containers. The key with growing a fern in a pot is moisture. Ferns need moist conditions to thrive and the major downside with pot-growing plants is that they dry out quicker than their ground-grown counterparts. Keep on top of that with regular watering, however, and your fern(s) should do just fine.

The short answer? Not generally, no. The slightly longer answer? Most garden soils have sufficient nutrition for ferns to grow nicely, with an annual springtime mulch generally being more than enough to help ‘top everything up’, so to speak. If you’ve noticed growth is consistently poor, year after year, then consider a light application of general-purpose fertiliser in spring.

If your ferns are deciduous, then you can cut these back once the fronds have yellowed and browned, you can cut them right back to the ground. For evergreen ferns, however, should be cut back in late winter or early spring, prior to the arrival of new fronds.

While they might require a little more care than some plants, the care requirements for tree ferns are by no means excessive. The main thing is to give them some protection through the winter months with some horticultural fleece (or bubble wrap).

For the first couple of growing seasons, it helps to water your fern plant routinely to help it establish. Once established, watering only tends to be needed during hot, dry spells. It’s important that the soil is always kept moist, however, as ferns should never be allowed to completely dry out.