Help, is my tree fern dead

16 years ago

I purchased a dicksonia tree fern last year and planted it amongst my fern garden - this is a shaded area and only gets the last of the late afternoon sun for a very short period of time. I took some advice regarding what to do with my fern over the cold period and it may perhaps have been the wrong advice. I cut the frons and then covered the trunk to protect it from the frost & snow. Unfortunately there seems to be no sign of new frons - have I killed my fern or should I be patient in the hope that they will eventually appear?

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SteveKitchen

12 years ago

I would appreciate some guidance regarding our 5-6 feet Dicksonia Antartica which we feared had died over the last, very mild, winter. Every year it has been protected with straw and fleece and has survived some very harsh winters. Ironically when uncovered this year whilst I could see the silky brown hairs no fronds appeared and around June time we decided that Gary, as he was known, was no longer living.

He was given a new role in the garden as host to some solar lights however much to our surprise, in late July, a frond appeared. He now has four or five very weak fronds; the longest is only around nine inches. When purchased some eight years ago his fronds were magnificent but over the years they have deteriorated in thickness and length. I believe this to be as a result of him being kept in full light over that period. I have now moved him to a more sheltered position and I plan to provide some shading before next summer.

Should I treat him as in previous years, covering him from November to April? Can I ever expect Gary to regain his looks or will small fronds be the norm?

Would appreciate any advice regarding this. Many thanks in advance.

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Comments (10)

vetivert8
16 years ago
Do you have anywhere warmer? Perhaps with more sun? Tree ferns are often left fully exposed on sunny hillsides after logging and do just fine, even after being battered by logging equipment. Or along roadsides. They're pretty resilient, normally.

The main part that needs protection is the crown, which is where the new fronds/fiddleheads begin. You'll know it's still alive when you see bumps covered in silky brown 'hair' coming from the crown. In at least one species they may also come from the trunk. Now that summer has tentatively begun just keep an eye on the plant. It could well respond to the warmer weather.

I'm wondering about cutting back the fronds for winter. D fibrosa usually has old dead fronds hanging over the trunk to provide protection from various hazards (not least of which are stray seeds which start growing on the trunk.) If they were left on and bubble wrap added. If the previous season's fronds were tied together at the top, like you do with cauliflowers, then there would be something to start the season with, perhaps.

They're evergreen. Fronds die off, maybe several if there's a drought running, but they don't usually drop the lot. They can come back after fire or being stripped by equipment. They can stand being the only stems left upright - although they clearly do better with more shelter and humidity. When they're tall enough to have a trunk then the crown shows above the surrounding bush, particulary in regenerating cutover or a revegetating area after weather events have caused slips. Fairly tough.

While it's little - could you make it a shelter as you would for establishing a lemon tree? Something sturdy enough to take the weight of any snow, or strong winds. Wrapped with sacking/hessian, or fleece. With horticultural plastic and fleece over the top. Then it could keep its fronds.
caroline bradley
15 years ago
ive have had my tree fern for several years now and it appears to have suffered through the winter period, instead of being its usual silky brown hair in the centre ther appears to be a deep layer of smelly mould, I have tried to scrape the mould away but it soon re appears. i was wondering if by cutting off the top part of the tree would help??? I`m devastated that this has happened to one of my special plants as I did cover and protect it through the winter months. Please help regards Caroline.
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pineresin
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Winter kill, followed by fermentation of the dead sap. Sorry, but they're dead, and have been so since the December freeze. The severe winter has caused a massive wipe-out of tree ferns across most of Britain (so you're not alone, if that's any consolation).

Resin
Vici metheringham
15 years ago
Just discovered this post, as I've lost 4 tree ferns last winter, 2 of which I've had for several years and were 6" feet , must say I never protected them in winter months, I've been lucky before, always protect banana plants etc lost but lost them also, been costly winter?!
KARL1jnr
15 years ago
hi i've just joined. my 10 yr old 5' tree fern has just started to show 2 small fronds so i know its not dead.
but will it improve in the next few years to have more fronds or not ? its been wrapped up over the winter but covered in snow and very cold
vetivert8
15 years ago
Karl - is there any way you could provide a 'canopy' to give your fern some winter shelter? Something evergreen, for preference. Pines, eucalypts, Pittosporum, Knightia, tall-ish Hebes.

Or, if they're too big for your garden space, some sort of attractive arch, or bush house/fernery which lets in the light, and that you could cover with wire mesh plus ag plastic for the winter.

If you go for the fernery notion remember that the roots are fairly shallow rooted and can cut short the careers of thirsty plants. I find that mollis azaleas, Aspidistra, mother of thousands Saxifrage, Dicentra, plus stray ferns such as Davallia, will all cope with life under the pungas. Hostas not so well.

If your fern is tall enough - you can also use the trunk for epiphytes and wannabes such as Gibasis, zygocactus, and Davallia.
donnawalket213
9 years ago
Acting my tree fern is dead I protected with sleaze and this is what I've noticed is coming up Can you help me
donnawalket213
9 years ago
What is this
donnawalket213
9 years ago
Help

Help, is my tree fern dead

SteveKitchen

Comments (10)

vetivert8

caroline bradley

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