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How do I rescue this mature fern?

BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
in Plants
We had raised beds built last year to try and help with our water issues (long story, have detailed in other threads), and I planted two mature evergreen ferns at the bottom of each due to the low light, very moist conditions. One fully died and when I removed it, it was sitting in water. The one at the other side of the garden (pictured) browned and looked very sad but didn't completely die.

We've just had the beds doubled in height and some extra drainage put in. Is it too late to rescue this plant now that it's no longer sitting in water? If so, do I just cut the brown ones off at the bottom of the stem?


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Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If the soil is no longer waterlogged, your fern should be OK in that location. You can just remove the brown or damaged fronds back to the base.  The plant will be producing new ones at the crown at this time of year.  I've just moved one large evergreen fern to a new location and removed all of the fronds to help it settle in.  There are already new fronds developing.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    The old foliage always looks pretty ropy at this time of year. 
    Some folk cut it off completely before the new foliage appears. 
    Devon.
  • BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
    Brilliant, thanks for the advice. I'll get rid of the sad fronds and let it emotionally recover from the quagmire  :D
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    BouncingBack said:
    Brilliant, thanks for the advice. I'll get rid of the sad fronds and let it emotionally recover from the quagmire  :D
    good plan. 
    Devon.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    You could also add some moisture loving plants to help keep the level of moisture under control.  There are other ferns which thrive in these conditions like the Shuttlecock fern: Matteuccia struthiopteris|shuttlecock fern/RHS Gardening.  There are also bog plants - I know nothing about these as my soil is dry and sandy!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've got shuttlecock fern, and I love it, but boy oh boy does it love to run about. Verging on invasive
    Devon.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    It should be fine in that raised bed though shouldn't it @Hostafan1?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
    I'm going to do another post about what to put in the beds, because I've been waiting until spring to plant in them and now have no idea what to put there. Lots of people in here will have some great ideas no doubt. In the other one I have some heucheras and a tiny sarcococca which the garden centre bloke suggested for the conditions. 
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Some people mistake evergreen as meaning  living for ever.
    All evergreen plants lose leaves/fronds.
    Your fern will have fronds that die but it will grow new healthy ones...and will soon look fabulous.

    Well done for sorting out the drainage issues. Very sensible.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • BouncingBackBouncingBack Posts: 142
    It was another £700 unfortunately but the garden has had/will always have major water issues. We've reached the limit of what we can do now though, have to just make the best of poor conditions.
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