Tree Fern

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by wiseowl, Mar 21, 2019.

  1. wiseowl

    wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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    Good afternoon I have the option of purchasing 2 tree ferns for £20 at a friends nursery can anyone advise Woo as what soil ,conditions ect please:smile:

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    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      Hiya Woo.....don’t plant them; they give off toxins that will affect your health. Send them to me forthwith and I will take care of them :rasp:

      Ok! You won’t do that so.......:noidea:
      They need some shade at least, moist soil and shelter from the coldest winds. Avoid frost pockets and be prepared to protect crowns over the winter.
      Sounds like a bargain Woo. Well done :)
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Lucky you Woo !

        I agree with Verdun about the care. They don't need anything special regarding soil. Sometimes they are supplied as 'logs' without any roots, these need planting only a couple of inches deep and depending on the size of the trunk will need support for the first year whilst it sends out new roots.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          They need plenty of watering in the summer or any dry spell. Water the crown and trunk. They need hardly any fertilizer, I only give them a couple of chicken pellets dissolved in water and sprinkled on the crown once in the spring when the fronds start growing.
           
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          • wiseowl

            wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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            Good afternoon @Verdun and @JWK my friends ,is it still the afternoon I am never sure when the evening starts:heehee: many thanks for your help and advice,its very much appreciated:smile:
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              @WeeTam might have some more tips as I know he has several Tree Ferns
               
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              • WeeTam

                WeeTam Total Gardener

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                Some sound advice given already above. All i would add is I used some ericaceous compost on a few of my small ones and they seemed very happy with rapid root growth. Water water water,trunk and crown,and seaweed feed seems to work a treet.
                Winter protection so important. And if you live where it freezes just bring them in so they can keep their fronds on.
                If wrapped and left outside,make sure the criwn still gets some water but doesnt have soggy straw left in its crown. Fleece balls freeze when wet so straw helps imho. :blue thumb:

                Edit . And by the way at £20 BuyBuyBuy!!!!
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  @WeeTam how often do you feed with seaweed? I am wondering if I am underfeeding.
                   
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                  • Spruce

                    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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                    Bargain , we need photos woo

                    All great info , I feed mine with Seaweed ( weak solution half of what the manufacture sugests) from late April onwards as a spray over the fronds and trunk till the end of August every two/three weeks ... I use Vitax Q 4 as a feed on the soil late March .... about now ....then add top dress the soil around the fern trunks.

                    I will take a photo over the weekend of what it looks like now @JWK its the small log I rooted on to the log that had died ... if you remember ?

                    Spruce
                     
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                    • wiseowl

                      wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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                      Good afternoon @Spruce my friend well they are keeping them for me,but I live on top of the hill and my garden is prone to the wind(as am I):smile: and there are no sheltered locations anywhere and lots of frost pockets,one half is in the shade all day and is always on the damp side ,the other half of the garden is in the sun all day and is hot and dry,still not sure what to do but they will keep them for me until Monday:smile:
                       
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                      • Verdun

                        Verdun Passionate gardener

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                        Not ideal Woo. They are worth creating a space for if you can :)
                         
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                        • Spruce

                          Spruce Glad to be back .....

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                          "one half is in the shade all day and is always on the damp side"

                          sounds fine to me @wiseowl I have a holly at the back of mine stops the wind , yes xtra work going into winter wrapping etc but they look stunning the rest of the year ... any chance of a photo of the spots they may go in so we can have a look and advise (if possible).

                          Spruce
                           
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                          • wiseowl

                            wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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                            Good evening @Spruce my friend this is in the shade all day:smile:

                            220ft above sea level

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                            • WeeTam

                              WeeTam Total Gardener

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                              Hi @JWK . Im fairly generous. End of year they get some seaweed in the crown to help with next years croziers. Early spring some more and some growmore/chick poop around the roots too.
                              Usually add some more sporadic feed in the watering cans through the summer too. :blue thumb:
                               
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                              • Spruce

                                Spruce Glad to be back .....

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                                @wiseowl if you can get that Cordyline & Fatsia to grow you can have a tree fern , you have to remember Woo most tree ferns grow under the tree canopy with half shade , mine grows in the darkest corner of my garden with next door fence cutting out the sun ... and come October , some fleece and bubble wrap soon be sorted I leave mine open at the top over winter and put a old frond in the top to keep any frost out ...


                                Spruce
                                 
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