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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

How do you create a lush fern colony?

19 years ago

I'm in zone 6 and I have a woodland garden where I grow many types of ferns and hostas, among other plants.

I have a large area that I would like to fill with ferns, but so far the types I've planted in the woods seem not to spread much, if at all.

I have ostrish, ghost, lady, male, sawtooth, tassle and maidenhair ferns. The only ones that seem to multiply at all are the ostriches. I also grow them along the side of the house, and they have multiplied very well. But in the woods, they don't seem to be as vigorous.

One issue is water, I'm sure. I've added a soaker hose to the bed to compensate for how dry it gets in the woodland area in the summer. But I'm wondering if there might be some varieties of fern that are more aggressive.

Any suggestions on good varieties or types of fertilizer/soil amendments that can create a lush fern colony in the woods?

Thanks

Jon

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Comment (1)

JohnnieB
19 years ago
Your best bet for creating a lush fern garden is simply to plant lots of ferns as most of the ferns you list--and certainly most of the desirable ferns--are rather slow to spread. There are just a few temperate ferns that spread aggressively, and most are not considered suitable for gardens as they will crowd other plants out. Among these are Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) and Dennstaedtia punctilobula (hay-scented fern). And as you've found, ostrich fern can spread rather vigorously as well, but is usually pretty easy to control.
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