Submitted by Mary Jo Buza of Gardens by Design
Ferns bring up images of shady cool woodlands with a slow trickling stream. Many ferns thrive in a cool moist woodland habitat. But, not all ferns need shade. The native sword fern (Polystichum munitum) for example, grows in the sun as well as the shade. Its relative the rock fern (Polystichum scopulinum) can be found growing in sun baked rocky slopes high in the mountains. These fragile looking beauties are tougher than most gardeners realize.
Ferns bring a graceful simplicity to the garden. To add texture to your garden, plant ferns around evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, skimma, and sarcococca. Ferns are also great companion plants for shade loving perennials such as hosta, columbine, and hellebore. If you have a large conifer trees like Western Red Cedar or Douglas Fir with nothing growing around them try planting a few sword ferns. They tolerate the dry soils found below these large conifer trees.
Planting Ferns
Most ferns will benefit from adding organic matter such as manure or compost to the existing soil. I generally recommend anywhere from four to six inches of organic matter depending on the soil and the site. To prepare the soil for ferns, loosen the existing soil to a depth of six to eight inches. Then add the organic matter and blend the existing soil and the organic matter together. I suggest this process because soils in the South Sound region are typically low in organic matter. Organic matter is an essential component to for growing healthy plants. Be careful not to over fertilize your ferns at planting. They prefer a slow release natural fertilizer.
Maintaining Ferns
If you desire a low maintenance plant, ferns are a good choice. Ferns don’t need to be staked, or pinched and rarely do ferns have disease or insect problems. Ferns require only an occasional pruning to remove the dead fronds. Ferns do benefit from mulch. A mulch is any material used to cover and protect the soil. The most common materials used for mulch include compost, wood chips, or bark. Mulch serves a dual purpose of discouraging weeds and conserving water. Routine or annual applications of fertilizer are not necessary for ferns – if they are planted with organic matter.
Favorite Ferns
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) is a hardy evergreen fern native to the Puget Sound area. Once established, it tolerates dry areas and will adapt to many garden conditions even full sun. Over time this fern can grow two to three feet wide. Cousins of the sword fern include the Divided Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum), Tassel Fern (Polystichum polyblepharum), and the Long-Eared Holly Fern (Polystichum neolobatum) – all are easy to grow evergreen ferns.
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) has deep green fronds that grow twelve to eighteen inches long. Much smaller than the sword fern, the deer fern also has evergreen fronds. It is a good choice for a small shade garden with limited space. It prefers a moist soil. If you observe its habitat in the forest is always grows nears streams. Deer fern is not drought tolerant.
Wood Fern ‘Robust’ (Dryopteris filix-mas) has delicate deciduous fronds that often grow more than twelve inches long. Wood ferns prefer partial to full shade but can tolerate a sunnier location if the soil is evenly moist. A new hybrid wood fern has hit the nurseries Dryopteris ‘Brillance’. An excellent selection with evergreen fronds that possess an arresting luster and cast an orange-red color as they emerge in spring. Every shade garden needs a Dryopteris ‘Brillance’.
Author Mary Jo Buza, is a landscape designer and owner of Gardens by Design. She has more than 20 years experience maintaining, designing and teaching gardening in the South Sound region. For more information on a custom landscape design or consultation call 360.923.1733.
