Ferns in the garden
Content:
There is no doubt that ferns are one of the most beautiful and spectacular plants, perfect for decorating a garden. But in order for your efforts to be crowned with success, you need to know where to place the fern so that it is as comfortable as possible, how to plant the plant correctly and how to care for it. In addition, in this article we will talk about which varieties are most suitable for growing in the garden.
Ferns: the best garden views
Fern in the garden: photo
There are many varieties of fern. If you wish, you can experiment and plant any variety in your garden. But most likely the exotic plant will not withstand the difficult climatic conditions of the middle zone and will die. These ferns are best grown indoors. And for growing in the garden, ferns of more hardy varieties are suitable, the viability of which has been tested empirically and confirmed by many gardeners.
- Asplenium - small bushes that amaze with their beauty from mid-spring and literally before the first snowfall, autumn weather does not frighten them.
- Kochedyzhnik female - can grow up to seventy centimeters, is not afraid of frost. It can grow in one place for ten years without losing its decorative effect.
- Kochedyzhnik nippon - this plant strikes with a beautiful silvery-green color of leaves with purple veins. In order for this contrast to look more noticeable, the fern must be in the sun in the morning.
- Ostrich ordinary - on the territory of our country, this is the most widespread variety. It is not capricious and requires almost no maintenance.
Fern in the garden: photo
- Shieldworm - not only beautiful, but also unpretentious and frost-resistant.
- Osmund, Maidenhair, Mnogoryadnik - rather high varieties, beautiful and unpretentious, but at the same time they do not tolerate the cold season. Therefore, it is recommended to grow them in the southern regions.
- Bracken - frost-resistant, beautiful and unpretentious variety. However, planting it in a summer cottage is not recommended, since the plant contains poison that can harm excessively voracious or curious pets.
Fern in the garden: photo
Fern in the garden: planting and care
All garden fern varieties require moist soil and prefer to grow in the shade, although some require several hours of diffused sunlight during the day (eg Nippon Kochedzhnik).
In an open, sunny place, a fern in the garden simply will not take root and will wither over time, so it should be placed either in the depths of the garden, or in the shade of the house, or in a flowerpot that can be moved depending on the weather.
A contraindication for any kind of fern in the garden is the direct rays of the sun. Ferns usually have a fairly strong root system, which is constantly growing, so when planting, you need to give the plant enough space.
Fern in the garden: photo
It is best to plant the fern in the garden in spring, when the ground is warm enough and the fern leaves are just about to unfold. Or it should be done at the beginning of autumn, when active growth stops.
When planting a fern in the garden at the same time, the distance between medium-sized varieties should be at least 40 cm.And the distance between tall and powerful bushes should be at least 70 cm.
Dig a hole slightly larger than the root system, or prepare a container with a drainage layer and sandy loam soil. Add a pinch of nitrogen fertilizer to the bottom, mix it with the soil so that there is no direct contact with the fern roots. Gently spread the roots in a hole or container, cover with earth, tamp a little and water liberally.
If you are planning to transplant a fern from the forest, then the planting algorithm is no different. There are just a few more steps to be taken before landing. Water the forest fern, then carefully dig up and remove the dried leaves. Try to transport the plant along with an earthen clod so as not to injure the roots. It is necessary to dig up the plant in the spring and immediately before transplanting. After planting the plant, be sure to water it.
Fern: plant care
Fern in the garden: photo
In this matter, gardeners are divided into two camps: half assert that the fern in the garden is completely unpretentious and does not require any care, except for watering, the main thing is to plant it in the shade. Others complain that the plant does not take root in the summer cottage, no matter how hard they try, and therefore, it is demanding and capricious. Who is right?
To be honest, both are right. If the fern in the garden is planted correctly, providing it with moisture, shade, light soil, then no problems will arise, the plant will quickly take root and will feel great. But if you damage the root, plant the plant in the sun, do not provide drainage or plant the fern in heavy, dense soil, then the plant will have a hard time and the fern may die.
To make the fern comfortable in the garden:
- Water it at least once a week. If the weather is very hot, you should water more often. The soil under the plant should not dry out.
- Loosen soil, this makes it easier for air to reach the roots.
- Mulch ground around the plant, this will prevent moisture from evaporating. And the use of sawdust or coniferous litter as mulch will make it difficult for slugs to access fern leaves.
- Trim only those leaves that have received mechanical damage or look diseased.
- Fertilizers are only required if the plant begins to turn yellow. You can add nitrogen fertilizer when watering or foliar feed on the leaves.
- Heat-loving varieties are necessary harbor for the winter. Mulch the plant with a thick layer of dry foliage or spruce branches, and then cover with geotextiles and secure it.
- Ferns that grow in containers can be transplanted into soil for the winter and covered, or removed to a basement or cellar, remembering to periodically moisten the soil.
How to propagate a fern in the garden
Fern in the garden: photo
There are three ways to propagate a fern in the garden:
- There is a group of ferns in which, during the growing season, the growth of creeping processes can be observed - this is rhizome mustache... Such a shoot must be dug in by about 10 cm and watered. And after a while a new bush will begin to grow in its place.
- Like many other plants, any fern variety can be propagated division bush, but this should be done only in the spring, since during autumn planting, the delenki may not have time to take root.
- In some fern varieties, you can find small bumps on the leaf plate - this is brood kidneys... Such buds must be separated, put on moistened peat, covered with transparent material, having built a greenhouse, and put in a warm and dark place, not forgetting to water. It usually takes two months to root, then the container can be moved outside.
Conclusion
We discussed some varieties, planting a fern in the garden, and caring for the plant.Now you know that ferns only feel comfortable in the shade. In the sun, they quickly lose their attractiveness and may die.
You know that ferns in the garden need light and loose soil, as well as regular watering, you need to make sure that the soil at the roots of the plant always remains moist (but do not turn the soil into a swamp).
When landing, you need to act quickly. If you dug up a fern in the forest, then have time to plant it before the plant begins to wither, otherwise this specimen will not take root. Providing the ferns in the garden with the necessary care, you can admire their delicate leaves for a long time.
