Ferns for small places

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 26, 24 November 1987, Page 11

Ferns for small places

The upsurge of interest nationwide in the protection of our native flora has resulted in more and more people becoming interested in growing these plants for themselves, and a wide range of our native plants are now being grown by nurserymen to fulfil this need. It would be hard to find a garden nowadays without one or more of the native plants growing quite happily beside the dahlias and chrysanthemums . More and more gardeners are becoming interested in including some of our beautiful native ferns in their gardens and ferneries and fern houses are becoming quite a feature of the New Zealand garden. Not for all of us is the delightful prospect of a lush fernery meandering through an avenue of trees with the murmur of a bubbling stream, or even a specially constructed fern house in which to coax some of the more tender varieties to grow, but every garden has some shady spot that will provide a suitable environment to grow some of the more hardy species. Ferns can be grown as ground cover between taller growing shrubs which will provide them with the shade they need, or in a shady border. Some ferns such as the doodia media will tolerate quite bright sunlight.

Plant an asplenium bulbiforum, the 'hen and chicken' fern with it's graceful arching foliage. Doodia media will grow where the light is good. Plant asplenium flaccidum on a raised bank or trailing over a log where the graceful fronds can hang down. Blechnum penna marina would be a delightful little specimen to creep along the ground. There are many others which will flourish in this area and before you know it you will be wanting a larger fernery. Spare a little time to study the environment in which ferns grow naturally. Along a river bank, or in a shady bush area. By creating a similar environment in your own garden they will grow there just as happily. The basic requirement for most ferns is a generally shaded site with enough good light to encourage them to grow. Shelter from cold drying winds and draughts is essential. Generally an acid soil which is rich in humus suits although some varieties such as the aspleniums require a little lime. High humidity and a constant supply of moisture are a must. Ferns will not grow in cold, heavy or clogged clay soils. They must have a growing medium which is light and with plenty of humus such as leaf mould, well rotted compost, and the addition of a good dressing of peat moss

which will help to retain the moisture in the soil. The site must be well drained. If the soil is at all heavy and inclined to be sticky the addition of gritty and stony matter well dug in will help to break it up and improve the drainage. Very old cow manure well broken up would be a good addition but it must be completely dried out and weathered. A corner of your garden shaded by a tree or taller growing shrubs could be made into a delightful little fernery. It need not be a large area. Provide one or two interesting rocks to give a natural look and perhaps a small ornamental pool. A deep washing-up bowl sunk into the earth with the edges disguised with small rocks and stones will make a pretty little pool and this will help to provide the humidity required by your ferns. Having set up your little fernery, then go for it.