How to Care for Wood Ferns

Wood ferns thrive in a cool, shady environment.

Wood fern, (Dryopteris), is a stately woodland plant with lush, green fronds that can grow as tall as 4 feet, the tips arching gracefully toward the ground. The underground rhizomes of wood fern spread slowly, and over time the plant becomes a dense ground cover. Also called autumn fern, the hardy wood fern can tolerate sub-zero temperatures down to 5 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and will grow in warm, humid climates as long it is protected from sunlight. Wood fern is beautiful planted in cool, shady woodland gardens, and can be planted year round. Once planted, wood fern is truly a no-maintenance plant.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel or hoe
• Decomposed manure, peat moss or compost
• Water

Instructions

1. Choose a spot for wood fern plants carefully. Plant wood fern in moist, well-drained soil where the plant will be in full shade or morning sunlight. Avoid planting wood fern where it will be exposed to afternoon sunlight, which will be too warm. Shelter wood fern from strong wind.

2. Remove weeds, rocks and large dirt clods from the planting area. Use a shovel or a hoe to cultivate the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.

3. Amend the soil before planting wood fern. Add 3 to 4 inches of organic material such as decomposed manure, peat moss or compost to the top of the soil, and work it in thoroughly. If the soil doesn't drain well, add up to 6 inches of organic material. Organic matter will improve soil drainage, and as it decomposes will provide all the nutrients needed by the wood fern.

4. Allow 18 to 24 inches between each plant. Ample space will allow room for growth, and will promote good air circulation.

5. Water wood ferns deeply by allowing a garden hose to run slowly at the base of the plant. Allow the top of the soil to dry out slightly between watering.

Tips & Warnings

• If the soil is amended with organic material, the wood fern needs no additional fertilizer. If you feel the need to fertilize the wood fern, never use chemical fertilizers. Work a bit of compost into the soil, or feed the fern a small amount of fish emulsion, applied according to the direction on the package.

References

• University of Florida: Dryopteris erythrosora
• Ohio State University: Dryopteris erythrosora - Autumn Fern