Ferns Are One Of Oldest Living Plants
Posted on June 6th, 2009 by Sharon Sweeny in Ground Covers, Shade Gardens
Ferns grow in every city on Earth.
Ferns have been around for 350 million years. They’ve spread their spores around the globe and now grow everywhere except the polar regions.
With over 20,000 species, ferns are members of the Pteridophyta family.They vary in size from just a few inches up to fifty feet tall.
Ferns propogate by producing spores, those brown bumps on the undersides of their leaves. They also produce new plants along their running roots.
Carrying the seeds, or “spores” in one’s pocket was said to make you invisible.
During Medieval times, ferns were called “devil brushes.” Their dried fronds were hung throughout the house to protect the occupants from thunder and lightning.
Ferns love moist, shady places, but a few species live in the desert. Ferns will grow nicely in partial shade, although they do best if the sun they receive is morning sun.
If you want to grow ferns, walk around your neighborhood and find a patch that you like. Chances are very good that the owner of those ferns will happily allow you to dig some for your yard.
Given the way they spread like crazy, I’m betting they’ll want you to dig out the ones from the front part of the bed.
Plant your ferns in rich, moist soil that is in partial to full shade. Even if they get afternoon sun, they’ll do OK as long as you water them regularly and mulch them well.
Spread a granular fertilizer all over the bed where you will plant them.
Space the plants about 6 to 8 inches apart in all directions. Plant them so that their “crown” is just above the surface of the soil. The crown is a dark brown area just above the roots from which the fronds grow.
Water well when transplanting. For the first year after planting, give them about an inch of water per week. After the first year, water in late summer if their fronds start to dry out a little. Other than that, your ferns won’t need any extra care from you.
Within just a few short years, the entire bed will be filled with them.
Hopefully a neighbor walking by will want to take a few off your hands.
Keep a shovel ready.
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