Planting Ferns in the Garden | Fern Planting Tips: Gardening

Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

Ferns make wonderful companions to wildflowers and seasonal bulbs in a woodland garden. Most species need moist, well-drained soil that’s high in organic matter, so before planting, give your ferns a boost by amending your planting holes with a little compost. In the spring, watch for the delicate shoots (called fiddleheads) to emerge from the soil. Within a few weeks, they’ll unfold to those familiar feathery fronds. To give your ferns a good growing start, just follow the steps show in the pictures and described in their captions.

Planting Ferns - Step 1

Prepare the bed, then gently invert the plant in its nursery container, supporting the fern. Flex the container to remove the plant, taking care to avoid damaging its fronds or roots.

Planting Ferns - Step 2

Mark the planting point based on your garden plan and the spacing requirements as indicated on the plant tag. Dig a planting hole as wide as and 2 inches deeper than the nursery container. Add approximately 2 inches of organic matter to the hole.

Planting Ferns - Step 3

Place the fern in the hole, positioning it so the top of the root mass is slightly above the surrounding soil surface. Add or remove soil to level the plant.

Planting Ferns - Step 4

Fill the hole, mounding soil up to the root crown. Firm the soil around the fern with the open palms of your hands.

Planting Ferns - Step 5

Add a 1- to 3-inch-deep layer of organic mulch around the base of the fern, keeping it about 3 inches away from the crown of the plant.

Planting Ferns - Step 6

Water deeply and thoroughly, using watering can or a garden hose with a diffusing nozzle. Water regularly until the fern is established.

Facts

Woodland gardens are characterized by their dappled, tree-cast shade. Plants are arranged in layers: an overstory of tall trees, an understory of smaller trees and medium-height shrubs, and a final floor level of low-stature perennials and groundcovers. Ornamental grasses, groundcovers and ferns all work well in this natural garden setting.

Faqs

Q: What are some neat ferns to include in my shady wooded areas?
A: Unusual decorative ferns, such as the hayscented fern, Japanese lace and painted ferns, lady fern, maidenhair fern, ostrich fern, royal fern, shield fern and Western sword fern make for interesting color variation and shadows across a woodland floor. Visit the Learn2Grow Plant Database for more information.

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The Easy Steps to Planting Ferns