7 Reasons Ferns Are the Best Choice for a Low-Maintenance Garden
Ferns give you an answer to the biggest problem in gardening: How do I keep something alive without babying it constantly? Once established‚ most ferns need almost no fertilizer‚ little or no pruning‚ no special watering‚ and only slightly more attention than most shade perennials․ Ferns have been here in the understory for millions of years․ However‚ in Tennessee or the Southeast‚ most would concede that they will grow in the humidity and clay soil better than most ornamentals sold at a big box store․
Read about fern benefits‚ types of ferns suitable for your garden space‚ and how to grow and care for ferns․
Reason 1: They Grow Where Nothing Else Will
Most flowering plants cannot compete under a well-formed tree for more than a year or two due to limits on light‚ space or moisture; ferns such as Maidenhair Fern are successfully adapted to their understory habitat․ Maidenhair Fern is found in North America and the Himalaya‚ but will not tolerate full exposure‚ only dappled or full shade․ They grow upright between 16 and 26 in (41 and 66 cm) tall and are fan shaped‚ having narrow leaflets stuck on hair-like black stems known as stipes․ It is a delicate plant‚ but hardy to zone 3‚ and not as prone to pests and disease problems in shade as other more dramatic plants which can grow in zone 3․
This is especially true for gardeners in Tennessee‚ where many homes are surrounded by large oaks and maples with dense canopies․
Water needs are simple and minimal․
Ferns love moisture but do not need watering every day once established․ The soil should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge‚ not sopping or bone dry․ In Middle and East Tennessee‚ the humidity is so high in summer that even established ferns usually will not require watering unless there is more than two weeks without rain․ In the drier areas of the state or in sandy soil‚ the plants may need watering two or three times a week during hot weather․
The Hay Scented Fern is native to the Eastern United States‚ and it is one of the best ground cover plants for situations where regular watering is not available‚ because it does grow in both dry rocky woods‚ and in damp hardwood forests․ Hay Scented Fern grows on golden brown stems and has triangular bright green fronds that‚ at their highest point‚ grow to less than 2 feet and 4 feet wide․
Reason 3: They Fill In Fast Without Taking Over
It has also been said slow growth or slow spread means less work for the novice gardener․ In fact‚ most ferns cover the ground quickly‚ and rapid growth can outcompete weeds․ The Ostrich Fern grows from a single seedling to a large colony in two or three years․ At its height‚ it reaches 3 to 6 feet (0․91 to 1․83 m) above the ground․ It is used for naturalization along creek banks or in shaded parts of property lines․ In smaller beds‚ it may need to be divided every few years․
Reason 4: Minimal Soil Disturbance․
Unlike roses and hydrangeas‚ most ferns are not sensitive to soil chemistry and organic matter and drainage are usually more important than pH and other expensive specialty amendments․ Maidenhair Fern and other ferns may be happy if a 2-inch (5․1 cm) deep layer of wood compost or castings is added to the soil in their planting holes‚ and need little other fertilizing․ A light annual top-dressing with compost in early spring is sufficient․
This is one area where TN Nursery potted ferns have an advantage over bare root ferns․ TN Nursery potted ferns should be established in good organic soil․ They do not have to adjust to new dirt‚ they undergo little transplant shock and they are ready to grow within two to four weeks․
Reason 5: Pest and Disease Problems Are Rare
Few deer‚ rabbits or other herbivores eat ferns as they have tough fronds․ The process of chewing and the chemicals inside ferns deter herbivorous insects from eating them․ Compared to daylilies or hostas‚ also popular among deer‚ ferns offer massive savings of several hours of maintenance․ If deer pressure is at all high (as it is in most rural Tennessee counties)‚ the perennials are replaced along the property line by ferns․
Reason 6: They Make Great Companions with Spring Bulbs and Perennials
Ferns appear later‚ so they can be harmoniously combined with flowers that are out in early spring‚ such as wood anemones‚ hellebores‚ cyclamen or snowdrops․ The flowers of these groups die away before the fern reaches its full height‚ and so the bed has interest for many months and is low-maintenance․ This layering process is not uncommon for English woodland gardens‚ but the family members have also successfully performed the technique in their shady Tennessee backyard․
Reason 7: They're a Long-Term Investment
Unlike annuals (which have to be pulled up‚ and replaced every year) or perennials (which have to be divided every three or four years if you want the plants to stay healthy)‚ ferns can last decades without more than an occasional thinning․ In old Southern gardens‚ fern colonies are 20‚ 30‚ even 50 years old‚ and no one has done much but grow them․ So the first time you plant these‚ you're going to be assured of them for years․
Getting Started
In autumn or early spring‚ in a situation providing filtered or full shade‚ the top few inches of soil should be worked with compost and the Maidenhair Ferns planted with at least their maximum spread between them․ One Maidenhair Fern requires less space than would a colony of Ostrich Ferns․ Water plants thoroughly and check moisture once a week․
TN Nursery offers a nice selection of ferns that do well in the Tennessee soil and climate․ TN Nursery ships well-formed‚ root-ready ferns (not bare roots or dormant plants)‚ so you won't have to guess or wait for these easy-to-grow and maintain plants to fill a lovely shade garden․
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