did you know?

Ferns were among the first plants to inhabit the earth. Their origins can be traced back 350 million years?more than twice as long as the first flowering plants. Their method of reproduction is very primitive: They reproduce not by seed but by microscopic spores. In Victorian England, ferns were collected, and their image was used frequently to embellish pottery, furniture, and other objects.

general maintenance:

Remove browned foliage throughout season to maintain tidy appearance, and remove all foliage in late fall or early spring before new growth begins.

pests/diseases:

Scale insects may occur.

controls:

For scale, apply horticultural-oil spray, or remove affected leaves.

how to sow/plant:

Plant in spring or fall. Choose a partly shady to shady site with humus-rich, well-drained soil, and amend with well-rotted manure or compost. Set plants at the same depth they were in the pots, spacing them at a distance equal to their mature spread. Water upon planting, and mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season. Apply a balanced fertilizer biweekly, following package directions.

garden hint:

The maidenhair fern is one of the most airy and graceful ferns, and it is one of Martha's favorites. Although it looks fragile, it is easy to grow when planted in moist, compost-rich soil.

features:

• Deer Resistant
• Native
• Shade Tolerant
• Wet Tolerant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Ground Cover
• Naturalizing
• Shade Woodland Garden

other uses:

combine with:

plantain lily coral bells wild ginger lungwort or big-root geranium