Re: [SG] ferns
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] ferns
- From: G* S* <f*@YAHOO.COM>
- Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 09:07:03 -0800
---Roberta Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU> wrote:
>
> Last year I read somewhere the disturbing news that old fern foliage
> should NOT be cut off in spring as it's bad for the plant. I guess
> eventually the new foliage covers it up, or it disintegrates.
Anyway, this
> spring I'm going to refrain from grooming my ferns and see if they do
> better. It's less work, anyway.
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
>
>
> On Sat, 30 Jan 1999, Kay Dye wrote:
>
> > I have a holly fern, rated zone 6 that I've grown for
> > years. It's evergreen, but the foliage looks pretty yucky by Jan.
and by
> > spring, I cut most fronds off.
>
Greetings from zone 5B IL
Understanding that increasing levels of organic matter to soil
improves structure and aeration/drainage, I am incorporating and
topdressing compost at every opportunity. Being efficient (which we
spell "lazy"), i topdress mostly. When the very early spring weather
is gardener friendly in Jan, I will topdress around (but not on crown)
of any visible perennial, including ferns. No problems apparent after
3 years of this.
The added benefit of such topdressing is that "ugly" overwintered
remains of last years foliage are mostly hidden.
Interested if others have tried this. Any increased problems with
disease later in year?
Growing, in Christ,
greg
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