I got some Ostrich Fern last year and they looked crappy for the rest of the year. This year, they came up looking good. They weren't as big as the transplants I was given, but they still look nice and are holding their own!

Usually ferns come back stronger and better.Of course, the critters will depend on whether they look good or not! Ferns like an acidic place to be.Where do you have them planted?,Judy

Lady ferns are among the easiest ferns to grow, they transplant easily and are very adaptable. They do like a moist woodsy soil but will grow thru cracks in rock and tolerate a wide variety of soil and moisture ranges, being the most tolerant of any ferns. They have a fibrous, rhizomatous root system and can cover a large area if they have it available. As for the fronds being broken off, they should survive just fine and come back next year as the roots are probably growing anyway. Mine are doing fine in spite of the drought we are having and a groundhog that likes to take naps in them.

I like this!
John

I have many varieties of ferns among my hosta. My experience mirrors those mentioned above. Next year will be better. About now most of my ferns look pretty sad, except for the Japanese painted. I have divided/transplanted many Lady Ferns. I like them because they clump and don't run all over like the Ostrich do. I find spring to be the most successful time to transplant them. New small shoots seem to take the move better. Good luck!

Thanks for all the good answers. They're in nearly full shade under lots of burr oaks and boxelders. Hopefully they're bigger and better next spring.
Peggy
do deer eat ferns?

How about if they get trampled? I've got a stand of Hay Scented Ferns near a huge pine that fell in a storm back in July. The ferns are fine now, but the tree guys are supposed to come and remove the tree this week and I have a feeling that they will trample my ferns pretty good. Digging them up is just not an option. Will they be ok next year?

As for transplanting, if I move or divide a fern, I try to do it in early Spring. I have lost a few by transplanting mid summer, but perhaps I didn't give them enough water to get them thru it. I did move some ghost ferns mid summer last year and they looked pretty "gone" for most of that summer, but did come back fine this year.

I lost all the fronds on my cinnamon ferns from the same storm that took down the tree...I have hope that those will return next year as well. All the other ferns sent up more fronds after the storm, but not those.

Peggy, the deer leave all of my ferns alone. You're going to love the lady fern, it's my favorite.