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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

Need help moving ferns

17 years ago

I moved to a new house last summer and I'm dealing with some rather, um, interesting gardening decisions of the previous owners. The one most relevant to this forum is the fact that they planted numerous large ferns, hostas, and lily of the valley directly next to the foundation of the house. The bed is quite large but the outer 1/3 or so is bare while the 1/3 next to the house is jam-packed with foliage.

I tried to move a particularly large fern in the fall when we were moving downspouts due to drainage problems, but it didn't survive transplanting. Is my only option to thin next to the foundation or should I actually be able to move those ferns to the outer edge of the garden bed?

Similarly, there are a few ferns that have come up in the middle of hostas...should I just pull and destroy them or do you think I could transplant to bare spots? I have successfully divided some of the hostas and will continue working on them but would really like to salvage the ferns as well. I have no idea what kind of ferns I'm working with (sorry!)... they just look like run of the mill boston ferns to me but I think the one I killed may have been an ostrich plume based on what I have read. Thanks so much for any suggestions!

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Comments (6)

arcy_gw
17 years ago
What sort of ferns are they? Most ferns when small they can easily be dug up and moved. If they are too thick, cut them out. They roam and will take over. Some ferns come up from roots if moved in the Fall. Spring is better in my experience. Ostrich are easiest to move, but large ones are not worth moving. I dig the babies our and pot them up for pots on my porch. A never ending supply!
waplummer
17 years ago
If they are large ferns and have sprung up in your Hostas they are most likely ostrich ferns. They are easy to move, but I don't know what might have happened last fall.
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Yes ferns can be addictive too but luckily you can't get them as easily as you can Hostas! If you are prone to indoor plants of course there is an extra danger. I'd first ask whether you're sure you want Ostrich Ferns in any part of a garden, unconfined? They will all keep making babies at the same rate, with pretty arbitrary placement. Lots of other lovely ferns will stay in the places you plant them much better. As to timing, if I were you I wouldn't take advice from anyone in a higher zone than yours, so won't even make a suggestion!
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It would probably help if you were able to say which fern (species) it was, or provide a photo. Some one might then have a better idea what its requirements are.
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Yeah, the ones on the left, some are black and brown, lying on the ground. The ones on the right aren't as bad, but these things were below their stated zone tolerability and are evergreen. Want something that won't die on me. Looked great this summer, VERY happy ferns! :)
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The hostas are happily thriving in the wooded area I've been trying (with mixed success) to clear in my backyard for two years. I tried the tape method, but you must have some SERIOUSLY strong masking tape or your hostas are not laboring under the misapprehension that they are small shrubs, like mine. I wish I had taken a pic of one of them filling the wheelbarrow, but my hands were too covered in dirt. When I tried to tie them up I kept catching leaves, and then the tape just kept ripping. So I just watered the heck out of them and crossed my fingers. They haven't seemed to notice I moved them yet. In the front, I started pillaging from around the yard to fill in the bed. Fortunately, I had two nice second year spirea that needed a sunnier home. I also got a great deal on this used fountain for $35, so I added that until the sunny perennials start to grow. I also bought a flat of annual dianthus to add some color for now. (Please ignore that the lawn right there is more weeds than lawn. I suppose someday I will get to that, but I'm guessing I expand this bed again before I fix the turf!) Thanks again all for the advice and courage! Steve, I will most likely plant some trees, but by the time they grow big enough to shade this bed, the hostas would have struggled in sun for years. Plus, this way I get a good start on my shady woods garden, too!
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academy562
Original Author
17 years ago
I don't know what kind... not sure how to ID them. There are a few that are enormous upright plumes, as well as many others that are smaller & spread out flatter. The majority just look like generic ferns to me. Sorry, I am obviously no expert in this regard!

A few have migrated into the yard so I am thinking I will try my hand at digging them out & moving since my last attempt at transplantation was a dismal failure. Can't seem to find any specifics about how to physically go about it.... anything I need to be careful of when I start digging? They are very pretty but not in a good spot and in some places over-crowded. Since I have lots of bare spots, I'd really like to make use of the extra plants rather than destroy them!
arcy_gw
17 years ago
I am guessing they are Ostrich ferns. Of the several variety I grow they are the travelers. Look for small crowns that have a leaf or two coming up only an inch or two. Dig with a shovel or trowel the depth of the shovel next to the crown and scoop them out root and all. If they are in grass you will want to brush the grass from the roots. Then bury them at the same depth they were. Water daily for a week. You should be good to go. You MAY get a larger crown, leaf combo to survive but it is not as easy. WATER WATER WATER is the key. In some areas if they die off this year a new fern may come up from the root next year. That will depend on soil type and drainage. Again the younger and earlier in the season you try the more success you will have.
Let us know. If they are not brown in a week or two after transplanting you did it!
fernsk
17 years ago
HELP

Do these Ostrich Ferns have huge root systems that form a maze and can be "hairy"? I've been in a couple of other forums asking about landscape design and some plants, but have begun digging out a perennial bed that is going to be made smaller and have a sidewalk poured over part of it. I started digging out my perennials and encountered these "runners" this is a massive root system. I was just going to move the ferns to a new bed but if they do this I don't think that I will. So 2 questions

1. Are these roots likely all from the Ferns? They and the gout weed [I know huge error] are the only plants that "pop up" all over the place.

2. Are there Ferns that stay put and are civilized? Especially the Japanese painted Fern?

Thanks for any info

Fern [ironically enough]
arcy_gw
17 years ago
Ostrich ferns are wanderers. Chances are that was one of their runners you found. Maidenhair, christmas, interrupted, lady, tatting all stay put for me like the japanese painted. I dig the clump up, divide and put them where I want them.

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