Ferns

Enhance Your Garden with Lush Ferns

Ferns are the ideal addition to any landscape, offering attractive fronds and the ability to thrive in environments where many other plants struggle. With their ability to thrive in moist, shady conditions, ferns provide an easy way to add layers of green texture, creating a tranquil and serene ambiance in your garden. Whether planted under shady trees, as border plants, in hanging baskets, or as ground covers, ferns of all sizes can be used to transform your outdoor space with minimal maintenance.

Planting Tips

• Plant ferns outdoors in early spring after the last frost, ensuring they have access to plenty of moisture and some shade.

• Enrich the soil with organic compost, dig a hole twice the width of the fern, and scatter sheep pellets in the hole.

• Gently remove the fern from its pot, place it in the hole, and cover with moist, slightly acidic soil.

• Top the soil with 5cm of organic mulch like Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food to lock in moisture, maintain cool temperatures, and suppress weed growth.

• Water the ferns well, avoiding watering directly on the roots, especially when planting tree ferns.

Care and Maintenance

Outdoor Ferns

• Water regularly to maintain moist soil, and consider occasional fertilization with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic plant food.

• Mulch with well-rotted old leaves to enhance soil quality and suppress weeds.

• Address pest issues such as fern scale by trimming affected leaves and promoting new growth through fertilization.

• Mitigate slug problems with Tui Quash Slug & Snail.

Examples of outdoor ferns:

• Cyathea Medullaris: the Black Tree Fern - NZs giant reaching up to 20m.

• Dicksonia Squarrosa: the Brown Tree Fern - smaller and hardier plant which is perfect for planting in sheltered locations and is fast growing.

• Attractive smaller species include Asplenium, Bulbiferum, Doodia Australis - ground cover in sheltered spots and Blechnum Gibbum for warm moist shade.

Indoor Ferns

• Keep indoor ferns away from strong draughts, air conditioning, and direct sunlight. Bathrooms with higher humidity levels are ideal for indoor ferns.

• Feed indoor ferns every 2-4 weeks with Tui Enrich All Purpose during the summer using a misting bottle.

Examples of indoor ferns:

• Maidenhair

• Birds Nest

• Button

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