Help! My ferns are dying!

Posts

• Dovefromabove Posts: 88,147

  September 2023

  Hello @izzieturleyYX2J9nr1 and welcome to the forum 😊 
  
  Can you tell us a bit more about your ferns, how long you’ve had them and where they’re planted please … sun/shade, soil, that sort of thing?
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  September 2023

  They look pretty normal to me.  I have a fair number and the fronds do go like that towards the end of the season, particularly any deciduous ones not in full shade. 

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  September 2023

  Just to add, even if they are evergreen, I would not worry as you will be cutting away the old fronds in spring to let the new ones unfurl.  

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• bédé Posts: 3,095

  September 2023

  "Hardy" means: will survive the winter, but not necessarily looking perfect.  It's now autumn, my native ferns are beginning to look a bit tired.

   location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
  "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  September 2023

  They could also be stressed with the move. I bought some a few weeks ago and they were pot bound not the best start. I think they will be fine as long as the growing conditions are right. 

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  September 2023

  They can certainly just be getting autumnal, but many ferns like shade, so if the site's very sunny, and as they're newly planted, it could also just be a bit of scorch.
  
  If you can give info on the type/variety @izzieturleyYX2J9nr1 , that will help. 
  
  

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• izzieturleyYX2J9nr1 Posts: 2

  September 2023

  I'm not entirely sure which they are as I bought a collection - they are either Polystichum polyblepharum or Matteuccia struthiopteris. The others in the collection are all happy, it's just these ones looking worse for wear! They are in full shade, in a raised garden bed, and I think I planted them in May or June time! 
  
  That's good to know they might just be dying back for the winter, they look like they've been eaten by something! 
  
  I was going to dig them up as I was worried it might be some kind of bug or disease but maybe I'll just lay down mulch next month and wait for the spring to see what happens? 
  
  Out of interest, when is the best time of year for planting ferns? I've read a lot of things saying the autumn but presumably there isnt much to plant as the fronds have died? 
  
  When applying mulch, do I leave space where the fern will emerge next year or just put it down on top? Going to use a wood chip mulch from a local supplier
  
  Thanks for your help!

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  September 2023

  Generally I tend to plant or move ferns in spring, just as the new growth is starting.  I would avoid mid-summer, but autumn should be fine.  They are generally tough little survivors. 

  
  

  If mulching, don't cover the central crown. 

  
  

  Ferns are usually pretty disease free and don't get eaten.  Just relax and enjoy their seasonal changes. 

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  September 2023

  Here's one of mine for comparison.   Normal end-of-season crispy brown bits.  No cause for alarm! 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• bertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697

  September 2023

  We find ferns fascinating. They appear in our garden (through spores) all over the place. In full sun, semi shade and full shade, damp areas and dry areas. They are so ready to give it a go here. Most do though die back in the winter and if little rain for a long time then they do have crispy fronds.
  

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