make your own fernery is rewarding , low - maintenance , and simple to accomplish . Here ’s everything you involve to know about planting and caring for ferns .

Ferns tote up delicate , feathery texture and loads of green to any garden layer . All you need is dappled shade , some works to get the colonies started , and enough wet to encourage ferns to grow . Here ’s what you need to bang to set about your own fern garden .

How to Care for Ferns

Although ferns come in many shapes , sizes and textures , their care requirements are standardised across the instrument panel . If plant in the correct consideration , ferns can be a full and foliage - forward increase to landscape gardening .

Light : fern prefer a mottled wraith canopy . Dense shade or bright sun will accentuate fern beyond their comfort spirit level .

tearing : If nature does n’t supply an inch of rain weekly , tearing will be necessary , especially during the first mature time of year after transplanting .

painted fern around large rock

Ferns can thrive in a variety of environments, including squeezed between large boulders.

dirt : Ferns go under their thirsty root into mysterious , friable grime rich in organic matter . expectant clay soilsare not hospitable unlessamended with compost . A neutral or slightly acidulent soil is preferable for most ferns ; aim for a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 .

Fertilizer : Beyond compost added to the soil , fern do not need plant food .

How to Grow Ferns

Know what to expect when planting fern in your K . dissimilar varieties of ferns can reach different size and are stalwart in different zones , so read the tag before bringing a fern place .

Hardiness : Zones 2–10 , reckon on the species .

Height : depend on species , ferns can range from only 8 inches to 6 feet marvellous .

autumn fern orange and bronze fronds

Some species of fern, such as autumn fern, change colors during the growing season.

transplantation : The optimal sentence to transplant fern is from late spring through the end of summertime ( but not during a drought ) .

Problems : Ferns are wonderfully trouble - free . They seldom succumb to diseases and are cervid - resistant .

Selecting Types of Ferns

There are so many types of fern , there is bound to be a variety that fits your indigence . Unless you have a lot of ground to cover , avoid aggressive fern such asostrich ferns(Matteuccia struthiopteris ) and sensitive ferns(Onoclea sensibilis ) . Some favorite hardy ferns include the evergreen plant Christmas fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides ) , cinnamon - frond fall ferns ( Dryopteriserythrosora ) , and well-nigh evergreen Himalayanmaidenhair(Adiantumvenustum).Japanese paint fernsfeature pale hues of pinkish , mint , and silver .

close-up of fern