Last fall I transplanted four fairly large sword ferns from one part of the property to another. We live in coastal S.W. Washington.
I tried to carve out as large a root ball as possible, but there were limits to how much I could safely lift by myself and heave into my garden cart.
I dug holes that were at least twice the depth of the root ball and about six inches wider. The sandy soil I amended with packaged topsoil, not potting mix - who wants vermiculite littering the garden forever?
The ferns survived an unusual freeze and looked quite peaked throughout the winter and spring. I gave them liquid, spray-on MiracleGro fertilizer periodically (with appropriate intervals) once the weather warmed. Finally, at least a month after the other sword ferns began putting out new fronds, the transplants woke up from their slumber and put out new fronds of their own. I think it's the fertilizer that accounts for the fronds that have been emerging throughout the summer.
The ferns aren't missed where I removed them and now I have large ferns right where I want them without the wait.
Thanks for posting another Cass recommendation, LGBTCC! It's strange, this recommendation should go without saying, IMO. Needing to say it shows the medico-political(?) climate we live in☹️.
I love ferns too, especially when they get fiddleheads, so lovely. Shade is wonderful too. Too much hot sun where I live, so the more shade the better!
Last fall I transplanted four fairly large sword ferns from one part of the property to another. We live in coastal S.W. Washington.
I tried to carve out as large a root ball as possible, but there were limits to how much I could safely lift by myself and heave into my garden cart.
I dug holes that were at least twice the depth of the root ball and about six inches wider. The sandy soil I amended with packaged topsoil, not potting mix - who wants vermiculite littering the garden forever?
The ferns survived an unusual freeze and looked quite peaked throughout the winter and spring. I gave them liquid, spray-on MiracleGro fertilizer periodically (with appropriate intervals) once the weather warmed. Finally, at least a month after the other sword ferns began putting out new fronds, the transplants woke up from their slumber and put out new fronds of their own. I think it's the fertilizer that accounts for the fronds that have been emerging throughout the summer.
The ferns aren't missed where I removed them and now I have large ferns right where I want them without the wait.
Thanks for posting another Cass recommendation, LGBTCC! It's strange, this recommendation should go without saying, IMO. Needing to say it shows the medico-political(?) climate we live in☹️.
I love ferns too, especially when they get fiddleheads, so lovely. Shade is wonderful too. Too much hot sun where I live, so the more shade the better!
Best wishes ❤️🙂