Noki, I dont know if your suppossed to or not, but in the fall if I see any ratty looking ones ,I cut them off.Same in the spring ,if I see any of them looking kind of shabby, I also cut them off.I haven't had any trouble in the past, however , in general, I dont think my ferns did as well over this past winter. A lot of the new growth came up just fine but as they unfurrled their fronds, they didn't appear to be as well formed as other years. I haven't had as much rain in my part, NW PA. unless that has something to do with it. almost liked they were shocked somehow, there also was a late freeze after stuff had allready started up. Tom