Five Essential Tips for Keeping Your Ferns Fresh and Vibrant All Year Round

Follow These Steps For Some Of The Best Fern Displays Your Garden Has Ever Seen!

Ferns have a special place in every garden lover’s heart. Their delicate fronds and lush green foliage bring an ancient, woodland charm that feels both fresh and timeless.

But ferns do more than just look beautiful, they help create cool, shaded retreats, improve air quality, and provide habitats for beneficial insects and wildlife.

With the ‘variable’ weather us gardeners in the UK face, ferns offer a versatile, hardy choice that adds texture and depth across all seasons. Whether you have a shady border, a patio pot, or a woodland garden, ferns are surprisingly easy to grow once you know the basics.

Why Grow Ferns? The Benefits They Bring to Your Garden

Ferns are more than just pretty plants, they’re nature’s perfect groundcover and garden stabilisers.

Their lush foliage softens hard edges and adds rich texture to shady corners where other plants struggle. Many ferns are evergreen, keeping your garden vibrant through winter, while others provide seasonal interest with delicate new growth in spring.

They’re low maintenance, tolerate a wide range of soil types, and are naturally resistant to pests and diseases. Plus, ferns create ideal microhabitats for pollinators and small wildlife, boosting your garden’s biodiversity.

Whether grown in pots or beds, their graceful fronds help cool the air, reduce soil erosion, and offer a peaceful, calming aesthetic that every garden needs.

The Fern Varieties You Should Grow

Choosing the right fern varieties is key to success.

For a true statement, the majestic Tree Fern Dicksonia antarctica brings a tropical feel with its towering trunk and dramatic fronds, a real garden showstopper and perfect for larger spaces.

If you prefer low-maintenance greenery, the Evergreen Hardy Fern Collection offers classic, reliable choices that keep your garden looking lush year-round.

For a splash of colour, our Colourful Hardy Fern Collection features varieties with stunning bronze, silver, or variegated foliage, adding seasonal interest and style.

Five Things You Need To Do For Fresh Looking Ferns In Every Season

1 – Regularly Remove Dead or Damaged Fronds

Keeping your ferns tidy starts with good pruning. Dead, yellowing, or damaged fronds not only look unsightly but can also attract pests or disease. Regularly snip these back to healthy growth to encourage fresh new fronds and maintain that lush, green appearance. It’s a simple task that makes a big difference in how your ferns perform and look.

2 – Provide Consistent Moisture With Appropriate Waterin

Ferns love moisture but hate soggy roots, so keeping the soil consistently damp but well-drained is

If you prefer low-maintenance greenery, the Evergreen Hardy Fern Collection offers classic, reliable choices that keep your garden looking lush year-round.

For a splash of colour, our Colourful Hardy Fern Collection features varieties with stunning bronze, silver, or variegated foliage, adding seasonal interest and style.

Five Things You Need To Do For Fresh Looking Ferns In Every Season

1 – Regularly Remove Dead or Damaged Fronds

Keeping your ferns tidy starts with good pruning. Dead, yellowing, or damaged fronds not only look unsightly but can also attract pests or disease. Regularly snip these back to healthy growth to encourage fresh new fronds and maintain that lush, green appearance. It’s a simple task that makes a big difference in how your ferns perform and look.

2 – Provide Consistent Moisture With Appropriate Watering

Ferns love moisture but hate soggy roots, so keeping the soil consistently damp but well-drained is essential. During dry spells, particularly in summer, increase watering to prevent stress and keep fronds vibrant. Mulching helps retain moisture and protects roots from temperature swings.

3 – Apply a Balanced, Slow-Release Fertiliser in Spring

Ferns are not heavy feeders, but a spring boost with a specialist fertiliser can really encourage vigorous growth and vibrant colour. We always recommend the HSK Specialist Tree Fern Feed, designed to provide essential nutrients without overfeeding. Feeding in spring helps your ferns bounce back strongly after winter dormancy and sets them up for a thriving growing season.

4 – Protect Ferns From Harsh Winter Winds and Frost

While many ferns are hardy, prolonged exposure to biting winds and frost can cause frond damage. Shelter your ferns by planting in sheltered spots or use mulch and horticultural fleece in winter to insulate them. This protection helps prevent moisture loss and cold injury, ensuring your ferns return healthy in spring.

5 – Ensure Ferns Are Planted in the Right Soil and Light Conditions

Most ferns prefer shaded to partially shaded locations with humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Avoid full sun unless growing sun-tolerant varieties. Understanding your fern’s specific needs helps prevent stress and keeps growth lush and healthy. Amend soil with organic matter and mulch regularly to mimic their natural woodland environment.

If you follow these five simple but essential steps, your ferns will be a fresh, lush highlight of your garden no matter the season. They offer timeless beauty, biodiversity benefits, and the kind of peace only a green oasis can bring. Happy gardening!