Openwork fern. Growing a garden fern: planting and care features. Fern species diversity in the garden

The association with the word "fern" is always ambiguous. Someone has something secret and mysterious in their thoughts, someone associates this beautiful plant with lush green foliage, while others immediately envision a finished rock garden composition. Fern really is a wonderful addition to garden compositions... It can be adapted even in the most difficult, at first glance, conditions. This can be done with proper care and choosing the type of frond plant.

Fern species

The fern has been growing on the earth since the days when dinosaurs still inhabited it. From that period to the present day, many species of this herbaceous plant have survived.

According to researchers, this figure is more than 10,000. Despite the wide variety of images of this plant, it has one feature: the fern never blooms. Whole legends are made up about him, but no one has documented the fact of flowering.

Even considering that the fern does not have a flowering part, they love to use it in landscape design. Here are some of the popular types of this plant:

• Fern Adiantum - the most suitable for the climatic zones of Russia is considered the fern Adiantum Stop and Venus hair. The first subspecies takes root especially well on Far East, in the forests of Priamurye and Primorye. As for the Venus hair, it feels favorable in the Crimea and the Caucasus region near mountain rivers and water bodies.
  Hair Venus is considered one of the most common types that grows well on the territory of a private farm, as well as in natural conditions. It is distinguished by its openwork dissected leaves, which grow on petioles, similar to a thin wire. Leaves grow like bunches from a powerful root stem. Its height does not exceed 0.5-0.7 m. On the bottom of the leaves there are spore sacs, they look like dark spots.
  Maidenhair, by its very nature, does not like windy areas. The plant develops fully in shaded areas where there is sufficient moisture. One has only to allocate the right place for him and he will delight with his appearance for several decades. If very hot days come, then the fern needs to be watered. Watering is arranged in a special way - sprinkling. The soil should be slightly acidic and fertilized organic fertilizers such as humus or compost. A drainage layer is embedded in the base.
  With proper care, the fern literally turns into a luxurious spherical shrub in just a few years. Landscape designers recommend planting it in rockeries, along water bodies, in garden compositions along with a navel or sedum. Some gardeners like to decorate the garden with this kind of ferns right in pots, without planting them in the ground;

• Fern dwarf male - has a wide variety of subspecies, including:
  Austrian Shieldworm. A favorite growing place on loamy moist soils. It has triangular leaves with a span of up to 1 m. Color: light green. On the ground, it spreads like a carpet, for this it is called "Prostrate".
  Amur Shieldworm - gardeners prefer this plant variety for its high frost resistance. The color is bluish-green, the shape of the leaves resembles feathers. With the onset of frost, the triangular fronds die off.
  The Crested Dwarf is one of the most common species of its group. It can grow on any territory of Russia. Moisture conditions will be more suitable for him. It is good if there is a reservoir nearby.
  A perennial plant at mature age reaches no more than 0.5 m. It has a short, but thickened rhizome, covered with scales on top. The color of the leaves is close to dark green. On the back of them are black spores in a row. The leaves have an elongated shape. They are attached to erect petioles.
  In addition to the above listed types, for garden beds the Fragrant Shieldworm is suitable, which has a pleasant aroma and a miniature size, decorative view False Male Shield Bug, Sikhotin Shield Bug.

• Fern Eagle - is an unusually useful plant. It will always come in handy in household... Many homeowners prefer this particular fern. It has an attractive aroma due to its high tannin content. Due to this property, fern leaves are used for storing garden crops. Vegetables, fruits and berries are spread on the leaves of Orlyak, then the crops are covered with them.
  The shape of the branches of the Orlyak fern is lush and spreading. Leaves are hard, triple-pinnate. In height, it is no more than 0.5 - 0.6 m. The root is branched, horizontal. The plant is naturally unpretentious and can grow even in the most depleted areas. Below, if you look closely at the lower pairs of leaves, you can see a nectary. It attracts ants. Spores are on the bottom of the sheet, for additional protection, its edges are curled;

• Fern ostrich - This species is characterized by upright erect leaves. They are quite dense and can reach a height of 2 m. Leaves grow in rows in a circle. In the center are the smaller ones - spore-bearing. Dark spore points are attached to their back. The root system is underground, rapidly developing. Fern Ostrich is of several types: Eastern and Common. The common Ostrich is not afraid of frost, which cannot be said about the East. A fragile plant does not tolerate winds and needs constant moisture.
  In shape, the fern resembles a bouquet of ostrich feathers, hence its name. Gardeners often grow this species for its decorative effect. Leaves look great in floral arrangements;

• Kochedyzhnik - there are several types: Female, Chinese, Nippon, Burgundy Leys. All ferns from this subspecies are shade-loving and can grow up to 10-15 years in one place. The soil must be well-groomed and fertilized in advance. The kochedyzhnik is not afraid of frost.
  The female Kochedzhnik has green shoots. They are very delicate to the touch and have a feathery complex shape. Petioles grow up to 1 m long. The root of the plant is short and thickened. The Chinese Kochedzhnik, like the female, reaches a height of 1 m, but the color of its leaves has an unusual reddish tint. The Nippon plant also has an exotic purple coloration. Burgundy Leys is shade-loving. The darker its habitat, the richer the wine color of the leaves. It is characterized not only by the reddish color of the foliage, but also by the burgundy color of the petiole.

The garden fern can be selected for any area, both for a darkened area and for an area saturated with sunlight. The same goes for soil type. Each gardener is able to choose a suitable one from the many species: emitting aroma, edible, decorative or even medicinal.

Fern in the garden planting and care

Before planting a fern, you need to know some rules for the care and maintenance of this perennial. If you want to get a ready-made plant, then you can dig it up in the forest. So you will be sure that it will take root, as it is grown in home latitudes. But there are others available ways for growing.

As for the place where the fern was planted, then it should be planted in wide holes, no more than 0.5 m. Part of the land that needs to be brought into the hole should be from the place where you took the process from. You need to transplant the fern right away so that the roots do not have time to dry out. Otherwise, it will not be possible to reanimate the plant. The same should be taken into account in the leaves. The stems should not be wilted. Do not separate the soil from the roots, it will be better if you dig up the fern in such a way that a lump of earth remains on the rhizome.

Ferns in the garden growing

A fern in a home garden can be grown in several ways: by separating a fragment from the rhizome of a tall fern, by budding and by growing from spores.

• Separation of roots the fern is carried out as follows. In the garden, in the forest or in the area where the fern grows, you find a healthy individual. An adult bush should not have dried and damaged leaves. Divide the rosettes at the root, transplant the separated part to a specific area in the garden within 24 hours. Try to keep clods of forest land to the maximum, so that the plant takes root better. Cover the fern root with moss to transport it home. This will keep moisture in the roots.
  Plant the plant in a shaded area. Place drainage and a small amount of fertilizer on the bottom. Ferns can also take root on poor soils. But watering should be abundant at least the first time after transplanting (7 days);

• Budding fern is carried out in autumn or late summer. Find a suitable bush around the end of August. Bend the developed leaves to the ground. Sprinkle this place with soil about 1-1.5 cm. Do not fill the main vein, leave it open.
  With the arrival of spring, several new shoots will grow in the place of the buried shoot. They will need to be separated from the twig and transplanted into the garden;

• Fern seedscollected in several ways. Option one: break off the spore sheet on the back. Place it in a paper bag or on a lighted windowsill until the shoot is completely dry. Once the leaves are dry, you can collect the spores and plant them in a bowl.
  The second option: take a knife, turn over a leaf of a living plant and scrape the spore-bearing bags into a box, a sheet of newspaper or some kind of container. Next, dry the seeds and plant them in a container filled with earth (part of forest land and part of universal or garden soil). Seeds are sown on top of the soil and watered from a spray tank. Rainwater irrigation will awaken spore growth. Then insemination will occur, and only then small shoots will begin to appear. This usually happens 25 days after planting the spores. By spring, in the prepared hole, the fern is transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Planting a fern in the garden

• Planting the plant should be done in the spring. For planting a fern in the gardening area, a shaded place is selected. As an exception, plants can also be planted in a sunny area, only this should be done with species such as Female Cochinate and Male Shield. After transplantation, for these groups of fern, it will be necessary to provide timely abundant watering so that the plant develops comfortably;
• The depth of the hole should be no less than the clod with which you are replanting the plant. Add a drainage layer and some amount of fertilizer for an accelerated set of phytomass;
• Three equal parts of compost, sand and peat (humus) can be used as fertilizer for transplanting. Further, it is allowed to use a universal fertilizer for garden plants. Top dressing should be done once a month from May to July. It is possible more often, but not more than once every three weeks;

• The fern's soil should be moist. Especially this fact must be taken into account the first week after transplanting a forest plant. Make sure that the plant does not "float". An excess is detrimental to the developing root system. Also try to keep the soil moist as it grows;
• The listed fern species tolerate frost and cold well. But Kochedyzhnik requires additional care. It needs to be covered for the winter. It is allowed to use fallen leaves, peat, spruce branches.

Why does the fern dry in the garden

Although the fern is perennial plant, any disease can lead to its wilting, and, as a consequence, its death.

One of the most common cases of fern extinction is the gradual drying of the plant. This can happen for the following reasons:

• Incorrect plant maintenance. Fern loves shade, only some varieties are capable of perception sun rays... Perhaps this fact affects the drying of the stems. This can be fixed by transplanting the plant. Insufficient moisture supply can also affect leaf drying. It is recommended to prepare a drainage layer before planting;
• Improper watering. In the first week after planting in the garden, the fern should be watered abundantly. If you fill it with water, the leaves may turn yellow. If the fern grows in a shaded garden area, but the air is very dry, then it must also be additionally watered. For irrigation, you need to use water without chlorine and lime;

Take a time to periodically inspect all the plants in your area. This can extend their lifespan and the lushness of your garden. Observing these simple tips along with the rules for planting and reproduction, you will admire the forest plant on your site for more than a decade.

The fern is one of the most beautiful garden plants. Planting and caring for a fern in the garden is a chore that falls on the shoulders of the gardener. First you need to figure out what conditions are necessary for the normal growth and development of a plant, how it can be grown, what is the care. Considering all the subtleties and features, with the help of garden plantings, you can significantly transform the landscape of your site.

Consider those types of plants that can be recommended for growing in the country or in the garden. Decorative ferns are used for the home, but for the garden it is worth choosing those species that are adapted to climatic conditions (frost, rainy weather, hot summer). Moreover, the choice of plants is quite large.

The most common types include asplenium. Most ferns are thermophilic. However, there are varieties that are able to tolerate the climatic features of winter in middle lane... For the formation of rosettes of leaves, plants are planted in partial shade, which will ensure the preservation of decorativeness from the beginning of spring to the first snow.

It is worth considering the undersized woodsia, which belongs to medium-sized garden ferns. This plant grows in nature on rock ledges. Its crown can reach a height of 20 cm, depending on the species. It can grow in one place for about 30 years.

A fern such as a kochedzhnik forms a dense bush, reaching a height of 1 m. The plant has one feature - new foliage is constantly forming in it.

One of the most common plants of this type is the bracken. It can be grown in the middle lane to decorate the garden area. After planting, the plant grows quickly enough. To prevent the growth of the crop outside the area where it was planted, it is necessary to take appropriate fencing measures.

Planting and growing spores

You can plant a fern on your site in several ways:

• purchase seedlings in a specialized store;
• grow yourself out of the dispute;
• bring bushes from the forest.

Disputes can also be purchased in a store or collected by hand, especially since there is nothing complicated about it. Most varieties are characterized by the formation of spores on the back of the leaves. In order to collect spores, a piece of cloth or a plastic bag is placed under the leaf of the plant, after which the leaf must be carefully scraped with a knife. The resulting mass is dried within a week. Next, the yellow particles are separated from the debris and large particles. They are the spores of the fern.

The best time to plant is early spring. But you can sow at any other time of the year. For growing seedlings, a soil mixture is prepared from peat and earth. Additional ingredients such as chalk can be added depending on the fern variety. Before sowing spores, the soil is disinfected and heated. Suitable flat containers are filled with soil and spores are poured on top. To create optimal conditions, the container is covered with a transparent film and placed where the temperature will be maintained at + 23-25˚С. During this period, there is no need to moisten the soil.

After 2 weeks, a greenish bloom will appear, which will indicate spore germination. With too thick plaque, a pick is made. Optimal dimensions spores are considered 1 * 1 cm. When the diameter of the spores is 5-6 cm, they are sprayed with warm water. Further moistening is carried out once a week. After 7-10 days, young fern leaves should appear. At first, they are not very similar to fronds (fern shoots), but gradually the shoots will grow. In the future, you will need to perform another dive procedure.

When the leaves reach a height of 8 cm from the container, you will need to remove the film for 3-5 minutes a day. The time interval needs to be increased gradually. Spraying is also done more often, up to 3 times a week. As you could understand, planting a fern with spores is a rather lengthy process and requires some attention. It is worth knowing about these nuances in advance. In open ground, plants can be planted in May.

Separation of roots and budding

Above, we looked at how to plant a fern from spores. If this method seems laborious, then you can grow plants by separating the roots and budding. Let's consider these methods in more detail. To separate the roots of a fern, it is necessary in the place where it grows, to find a healthy and adult plant... There should be no damaged and dry leaves on it. Rosettes are separated near the root, and the separated part is planted in a prepared place in your garden during the day. When removing a plant from the ground, you do not need to shake off the soil. For better survival, keep as large a clod of earth as possible. To avoid moisture evaporation during transportation, it is necessary to cover the root system with moss.

As for budding, it is carried out at the end of the summer period or in the fall. For the procedure, you need to find a bush at the end of August, bend the developed leaves to the ground and sprinkle them with a layer of soil 1-1.5 cm. In this case, you need to be careful not to fill up the main vein. Next year, in the spring, several young shoots will grow in this place. They are separated from the twig and transplanted to a permanent place on the site.

Disembarkation and leaving

In order for a culture to feel as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for it. Where do ferns grow? The best place are shaded areas in the garden, under trees, near water bodies. Depending on the group of plants, planting in sunny areas is possible, but at the same time they are provided with timely watering to create comfortable conditions. These ferns include Male Shitovnik and Female Kochedzhnik. As a rule, planting is done in the spring. The soil should be loose and moisture-permeable. The planting depth should be no less than a clod of earth with which the ferns are planted on the site. It is imperative to add a drainage layer, which can be used as river sand. It will prevent stagnant water and root rot. The root system must be straightened and covered with earth. Then the soil is carefully tamped.

When planting, it is recommended to apply a certain amount of fertilizer. To do this, you can use sand, compost, peat or humus in equal proportions. How to care for a shrub? In the future, they resort to fertilizing with universal fertilizers for garden plants. The planted fern is fed once a month from May to June. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers more often than once every 3 weeks. You need to monitor soil moisture. In particular, it is worth paying attention to humidity in the first week after planting plants from the forest. Both excessive waterlogging and drying out of the soil should be avoided. Excessive moisture will simply destroy the root system. Depending on which species of ferns are grown on the site, they may need to be sheltered for the winter (peat, spruce branches, fallen leaves) or additional care.

When planting plants, there are no strict distances. The main thing to consider is what size they will be when they grow up. If you plan to plant ferns belonging to giant species, then the distance between the holes should be at least 30-60 cm. The main goal pursued is that the plants do not interfere with each other during development. For ferns with an extensive root system, large areas are provided so that other plants are not interfered with. It is recommended to thin out the bushes every few years. If you follow such simple tips for planting, growing and caring for your crop, the garden fern will delight you with its beauty for more than a decade.

Fern use as ornamental plant in landscape design has recently become more and more popular.

If you believe the legends, then the fern is flowering plant, possessing magical powers, but in the real world of things it should be clarified that this culture does not form seeds, since it does not bloom. It is primarily a deciduous plant.

Reproduction is mainly vegetative, that is, by parts of the plant's body, but this process is quite long in time, therefore, gardening specialists prefer to propagate the fern using its spores. Let's take a closer look at how to use a fern for decorative purposes. landscape design.

The easiest way to get a beautiful front lawn

You, of course, have seen the perfect lawn in the movies, in the alley, and possibly on the neighbor's lawn. Those who at least once tried to grow a green area on their site will no doubt say that this is a huge work. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think so, professionals have long known about an innovative tool - liquid lawn AquaGrazz.

Ancient legends tell about the magical properties of the fern during its flowering period. It is believed that those who are lucky enough to see the flower of this plant will certainly own enormous wealth. However, it is now known that ferns do not bloom. These plants reproduce using spores or rhizomes.

Almost all species grow in the shade and partial shade of the forest thicket, so it is very important to create such an environment in the area of \u200b\u200byour garden where you plan to plant this plant. The plant will do well on the north side, while the soil should be moderately moist. For better growth you need a loose earth with slightly acidic reactions. For specific fern species, it is best to know their soil preferences.

The culture has special, inherent only to her, features of appearance, so the plant is quite popular both among landscape designers and among gardening lovers. These crops are often used at home.

Due to the peculiarities of reproduction with the help of rhizomes, these plants will easily spread themselves throughout the territory, which will undoubtedly decorate your garden, but you need to take into account some nuances. If you use ferns in decorative compositions, then be careful about its growth rate. Due to the fact that they have long rhizomes and grow very quickly, there will soon be no room for other plants. Ferns, which have a short rhizome, grow more stable and retain their size from year to year, but in turn, they can be suppressed by more aggressive neighbors (for example, periwinkle).

Often these plants are the solution to the problem of bare stems of various shrubs. With the help of their wide leaves ferns will help hide this defect in your garden design.

The composition of fern and bergenia is obtained in an original and very beautiful way.

Do you want to equip an alpine slide and make it part of your landscape design? Some fern species may come to your aid.

For such purposes, the foot maiden is ideal for you. If your garden is shady, then you can use a three-part multi-rower to decorate the alpine slide.

In order to properly grow a culture, you need to add some secrets to your knowledge box. Here are the basic techniques used when caring for a plant in the garden:

• it is best to plant the fern in early spring. Its feathery leaves are still collected in a snail. If the spring period does not suit you, you can plant the plant in the first half of September, when it ceases to actively grow;
• for planting, the soil must be prepared in a special way (it must have a good drainage of water).
• when planting a plant, be sure to consider the size of the mature fern and its ability to grow. This is necessary in order to correctly determine the required distance between landings. Large species are best planted at a distance of about 60 cm, medium-sized ones - about 40 cm, small ones - about 20 cm. For creeping species, use barriers.

In the photo below you can see how incredibly beautiful a fern garden can be:

Garden design benefits from the naturalness of its ingredients, which is why it is so wonderful that there are many fern plant options that you can choose for your compositions, depending on your needs and taste preferences.

In order to be able to enjoy the beauty of these unusual plants, it is necessary to master the knowledge concerning their life cycle. This will allow you to become garden design wizards. You can decorate your garden with an alpine slide, unusually graceful and beautiful.

Irises are a good "partner" for ferns.

These noble plants will help hide defects in your garden by covering them with their shady leaves, and the ability of the fern to grow quickly with the help of rhizomes will simplify the task of decorating a large area.

The fern can blend seamlessly into a small pond design. This composition looks very harmonious and chic at the same time.

Kinds

There are many varieties of ferns. A fairly large number of varieties have liked the conditions of the middle latitudes. Of these, stand out:

1. Ostrich feather, the leaves of this species resemble the tail of an ostrich.
2. Sensitive onglue, which is particularly elegant.
3. Bracken. Has edible snails.

The following types are also distinguished.

Room

This is one of the most popular types. It is often used as part of decorative elements for residential premises (phytowall, indoor rockery, etc.). It has feathery, carved leaves that reach 70 cm in length. It feels comfortable at temperatures not lower than +16 degrees. Does not like direct sunlight. Requires frequent spraying and moderate watering.

Indian

The habitat of this species is the tropics. It has finely dissected leaves of a pale green hue. In length reaches no more than 50 cm. Requires bright light, but also does not like direct sunlight. Feels comfortable at an air temperature of at least +20 degrees. Otherwise, growth slows down. It is considered one of the most popular aquarium ferns.

Forest

Common ostrich, kochedyzhnik, shititnik, mnogoryadnik, leaflet, bracken - all these varieties belong to this kind... These crops are easy to care for, have a bright rich color and extraordinary leaves. They are winter hardy, able to withstand the weather conditions of Russia. Prefers moist, nutritious soil.

Tree-like

Can grow in various conditions, but does not like strong winds and cold weather. He feels very comfortable in subtropical forests - he can often be seen near lakes and in swamp areas.

Male

This perennial herbaceous culture is capable of reaching a height of 100 cm. The leaves are rather large, collected in a bunch. From July to August, this species spores. Loves shady places.

Water

This species can often be found in Northern Australia and Southeast Asia. The leaves are long, finely dissected, of a bright green hue. It can grow in height up to 50 cm in favorable conditions. The air temperature +25 degrees is optimal for this species. Reproduction takes place by the formation of small daughter plants on the mother's old leaves.

Reproduction of ferns using spores

At the beginning of the reproduction process with the help of spores, it is necessary to prepare the substrate in which they will grow. For these purposes, peat soil, brick chips, rotting crushed pine wood or, in extreme cases, sand are perfect. If you want to avoid the possibility of spore germination of wild fern or moss, you need to steam this substrate. To solve this problem, there is another option to use fresh brick chips, scattered over the surface of the substrate in a thin layer, but the first method is the most effective.

Most fern spores form on the underside of its leaves. it characteristic feature for most species.

Sporangia, which are the organs of sporulation, should be visible on the leaves. In some cases, spores are formed only on specially designed leaves that stand out from others due to their unique structure. Such unusual species include "osmunda" and "ostrich feather". Osmunda spores mature the fastest. You can collect material of this type ready for reproduction already at the end of May. For the rest of the species, the typical spore maturation period is summer time (that is, three months of summer). There are species that are thermophilic and therefore reluctant to bear fruit in cold places. These ferns include the foot maidenhair.

If you observe brown spots on the underside of the leaf, then we can conclude that the spores are ripe for reproduction. It is best to collect them during wet weather, as they do not get enough sleep under these conditions.

In order to collect spores, take a sheet of paper, then place the fern leaf on the paper with the spores down. The sheet will need to be ripped off. After that, leave the sheet in this position for a day. After a while, you can check for the presence of brownish powder on your sheet of paper. These are the spores of the plant. If you did not find the powder after a day, then most likely this means that you are late. There are no more spores on the plant leaf.

In some species, spores can be stored for a long time, but this does not mean that it is worth delaying their transplantation into a prepared substrate. It is better to immediately sprinkle the resulting powder evenly over the substrate.

To improve germination conditions, it is necessary to maintain a constant source of scattered light and constant high humidity. Moisture must be maintained by spraying.

Young plants that are going through the first season of their life are still fragile, so they must be placed in a cool room, protected from frost.

Germinated spores require low light. For them, the open sun is categorically harmful. It is not yet possible to open the glass with which you covered your crops. At least for a long time, because for the death of the entire crop, it may be sufficient to dry room air a few minutes. Be careful with this point.

The overgrowths that you get at the beginning of the spore germination process bear little resemblance to adult crops. They are very sensitive to the slightest signs of dryness, so it is useful for them to arrange abundant watering. For this, the bases of the germs are watered with boiled water at room temperature.

Water stagnation should not be allowed, as fern sprouts do not like this.

Sowing spores tightly will result in mostly male plants. In order to avoid such an outcome, you can thin out the overgrowths with tweezers.

Fern development process in the photo.

After the fertilization of the outgrowths has occurred, sporophytes begin to grow, from which disputes are collected in the future. When they grow up, you should plant them in new containers.

It is also recommended to keep sporophytes in a humid atmosphere for some time. To do this, you can cover the containers with glass or a plastic bag, as is the case with spore buds. Light for sporophytes must be provided in greater quantities than for the outgrowths. Open sun is also contraindicated at this stage of development.

In June, you can plant your seedlings in the shade of trees, always under a film, to get a greenhouse. Stick to regular watering rules during this stage of plant growth. Fertilizers can be used to feed the sprouts, but only in the form of a weak solution. Sufficiently developed plants can be left outside for the winter. It is better to return the rest to a frost-resistant room.

The peculiarity of plants obtained from reproduction by spores is the fact that you, most likely, will not be able to preserve the peculiarities of the shape of the parent fern, but this method of reproduction makes it possible to select different species. You can use various garden forms when sowing spores on the substrate.

Having studied the features of reproduction, you can conclude that this plant is very whimsical, but this is not so. Like all living things, it loves care. When you grow your own plants, starting with collecting and sowing spores, if successful, you will have a lot of fun out of the process. This realization adds a tremendous amount of inspiration and creative power to the most intricate designs.

Use the gifts of nature together with your imagination. Expand the boundaries of design and rejoice in the end to the incredible and harmonious beauty. Be creative creators of the beauty of our world. All possibilities are in your hands.

Mysterious openwork fronds growing in the depths of the forest have always become characters in various legends, mystical stories and fairy tales.

Long ago, a fern settled in the garden. Planting and caring for him requires certain conditions for placement and moisture, otherwise the forest dweller is not picky.

Many nationalities still believe that once a year, on the night of Ivan Kupala, an amazing flower still blooms, bringing happiness to those who see it, or indicate where the treasure is buried.

Alas, the lover of thick thickets does not bloom.

Because of their ability to reproduce by spores, the famous botanist Carl Linnaeus called ferns secret plants.

They live in shady forests at the foot of tree trunks.

Some grow like epiphytes on the branches of large giants, adapt to clinging to rock ledges, prefer wet banks of rivers and lakes, bog bogs, even manage to perch on the walls of city buildings.

Ferns live everywhere, but their greatest variety is in the humid tropics and subtropics.

However, there are many species that grow in the temperate zone. Many of them are used in cultural cultivation. Among flower growers, they are known collectively as garden fern.

Botanical portrait

The oldest plants on the planet, ferns, are extremely diverse and differ in their shapes, sizes, structural features and life cycle.

They don't have real leaves. What everyone calls leaves, it is more correct to call them flat-lined, or vayyas, which are a whole system of pagons located in one plane.

There are no flowers, they reproduce by spores or vegetatively - with the help of fragments of rhizome, frond, buds, aflebia (leaf-like processes at the base of frond) and other methods, in particular sexual reproduction in some species.

Spores, which are mistaken for fern seeds, are usually located on the underside of the frond.

Types of ferns grown in the garden

In temperate latitudes, plants with a short stem immersed in the soil are common. Above the surface of the soil, fronds develop, forming from the buds of the rhizome.

They are characterized by apical growth, and their main purpose is sporulation and photosynthesis.

The following are most willingly taken root in the shady areas of the middle lane garden views:

Ostrich fern (Matteucia struthiopteris)

A graceful plant with airy fringes one and a half meters high and about 1 m in the circumference of the bush. Easily adapts to any conditions, picky about the composition of the soil, resistant to cold.

His only whim is the high moisture content of the soil.

He loves the shade more, in an open place it will grow shorter, and the fronds will be much lighter than that of an ostrich that grew under the canopy of trees.

In August, in the center of the rosette, forms sporophylls - brown, feathery and leathery.

Adiantum pedatum

An extremely frost-resistant species, it is not afraid of temperatures of 35 degrees below zero. He loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water.

The bush is rounded, pinnately dissected frond of light emerald color, incised at the edges, bending in an arc.

Female kochedyzhnik (Athyrium filix-femina)

An unpretentious view that will put up with even stagnant water.

Many varieties have been bred that differ in decorativeness, especially loved by LadyinRed flower growers - with red petioles and openwork dissected fronds.

However, in late summer or early autumn, after sporulation, they turn brown and look slightly decorative.

Japanese Cossack (Athyrium niponicum)

Well suited for mid-lane cultivation, loves moist, nutritious forest soil and shade, copes with low winter temperatures.

There are beautiful varieties of Metallica and Ursula'sRed, which have fronds with a silvery tint and purple veins.

Royal Osmunda (Osmunda regalis)

One of the most spectacular ferns with large, often almost two-meter leaves.

It is quite frost-resistant, but growers with experience in growing it are advised to mulch the soil around it.

Osmunda requires regular watering, her spores, like the ostrich, quickly lose their germination, they must be sown only freshly harvested.

Bracken Fern (Pteridium aguillinum)

Differs in graceful double and triple-pinned fronds on long petioles, rigid, triangular-ovoid in shape.

The bracken is characterized by rapid growth, which turns into a disorderly cover.

The peculiarity of the plant is that the sacs with spores are hidden in the wrapped edges of the leaves, and not like other ferns - they are simply attached from the lower side. Used in food and in folk medicine.

Centipede leaflet (Phyllitis sclopendrium)

The popular synonym is "deer tongue". He has frond without dissection, which makes him different from other ferns.

It grows up to 50 cm, thermophilic, requires shelter for the winter.

Polystichum fern - several species from a numerous genus are grown in the garden - Brown (Polystichumbraunii), high-fruited (Polystichumacrostichoides), thorny (Polistichumaculeatum) and other herbaceous plants with leathery dense fronds growing from an obliquely growing rhizome. They are characterized by slow growth.

Ground cover ferns include several low and very showy plants:

Dryopteris Linnaeana (Dryopteris Linnaeana) - the root system of the fern is highly branched, intensively growing. The fronds are openwork, light green in color, triangular in outline, with double pinnately dissected lobes. Spores mature in June.

Woodsia ilvensis

The plant is only 10-20 cm tall, withstands both frost and drought, but suffers greatly from direct sunlight, therefore it is planted only on the north side of buildings.

Hairy bone (Asplenium trichomanes) - the same low view as the previous one, growing no more than 20 cm in height. Prefers to grow in alkaline soil.

Fern centipede (Polypodium vulgare)

Forms a dense, beautiful canvas, which is often used for landscaping the roofs of high-rise buildings.

Floating salvinia (Salvinia natans)

The most common fern for water bodies is considered to be floating salvinia - an annual plant with pale green fronds, collected in pairs in whorls and drifting on the surface of the water. With the arrival of autumn, it sinks to the bottom, only spores winter.

Conditions for growing ferns in the garden

The most suitable place for perennials in the garden is a corner protected from direct rays on the north side of buildings located on an area where shade remains for most of the day.

Most of them do not like the sun, but if you provide good watering, then in an open, illuminated place you can plant a female kochedzhnik, osmunda, onglue.

The mnogoryadnik, shititnik and telipteris absolutely do not tolerate bright lighting.

Ferns prefer light and nutritious garden soil that is constantly hydrated. Feel good near water bodies.

Slightly acidic soil is suitable for ostrich, kochedyzhnik, linnaeus, onoklei, male ferret, marsh telipteris grows on swampy acidic soil.

Breeding features of ferns

Of all possible ways in garden floriculture, propagation by spores and division of overgrown bushes is usually used.

Fern growing from spores

Spores ripen in August - from yellowish-green they turn brown.

They look very small and delicate, they are incredibly afraid of drying out and sunlight.

They are sown in containers filled with peat, and the crops are covered with glass on top, or the entire container is placed in a transparent cellophane bag.

The substrate inside is constantly kept hydrated.

Shoots appear in 2 weeks or a month.

Young seedlings dive twice, grow for at least 2 years, and only then are transplanted into open ground.

Plants grown in this way are distinguished by strong bushes and resistance to adverse environmental conditions.

Dividing the bush

Most garden ferns are propagated by rhizome fragments or by dividing the bush into several parts.

Sections of rhizomes 20-25 cm long are used, they must have at least 2 buds.

Those species that have a short rhizome and rosette growth are divided in the event that small daughter rosettes have formed next to the adult specimen.

It is best to divide the bush in early spring in cool, cloudy weather, while the fronds have not yet developed.

The bush is dug up, with a sharp knife they cut it between the sockets so that there are enough well-developed roots on each division.

Sprinkle the slices with cinnamon or crushed charcoal. After transplanting, the plants are well watered.

It is permissible to divide the bush in the fall at the beginning of September or even at the end of summer - in the last days of August.

The main thing is to keep the weather cool on the day of transplantation and for several days after.

Those ferns that grow with only one point of growth and do not form rosettes are propagated exclusively by spores.

Features of planting ferns in the garden

Having chosen a suitable place, the plant is planted in a shallow hole commensurate with the root system of the plant.

Pits are placed at a distance of 30-50 cm from one another, guided by the estimated size of an adult perennial.

A mixture of peat, compost and sand, taken in equal amounts, is poured at the bottom of the hole.

The perennial is positioned so that the base of the frond is not too buried in the ground, well watered and sprinkled with earth dug out of the hole.

Planting the fern ends with mulching the soil around the plant to retain moisture with last year's dry foliage or pine needles.

Boarding Issues

Often from the lips of flower growers the question sounds - is it possible to plant a fern near the house.

Discarding all mystical warnings, experts boldly answer them - as much as necessary, only from the north side and in the shadows.

Similar doubts arise in connection with statements about the energy vampirism of the plant.

They arose due to the ability of the fern to absorb a lot of oxygen at night, therefore, in a living room where people sleep, you cannot put a pot with an indoor fern - the next morning a migraine will be provided.

However, this does not apply to garden ferns, because they grow in open space, and the amount of oxygen they absorb will not affect those around them.

Another question arises - how frequent can be a fern transplant. The less often the better.

Plants do not like to be disturbed by their root system, especially by division.

Powerful beautiful bushes are formed over several years, any interference with this process stops their development.

Top Tips for Outdoor Fern Care

The main care measures are associated with regular watering of the plants, especially in hot summer weather.

The amount of water is not particularly limited if the surrounding air is dry - the plants are also sprayed with spray nozzles for a hose or watering can.

Fern soil should be constantly moist.

After drying, it is carefully loosened so as not to catch the root system of the plant, weeds are removed.

At the beginning of the growing season, perennials are fed once every three weeks with complex mineral fertilizers, organic matter is introduced in early spring.

Preparing the fern for winter consists in mulching the near-root space with peat, as well as covering with spruce branches or fallen leaves.

For frost-resistant species, it is enough to sprinkle dry leaves on the center of the bush, although many plants do without this.

Fern diseases and pests

The decorativeness of fern plantings is seriously spoiled by slugs and snails that live in a humid environment.

They are harvested by hand, if the colony is numerous, metaldehyde preparations are scattered between the bushes.

A serious problem for plants is represented by bacterial and fungal infections that cause decay of rhizomes and, as a result, the death of the entire bush.

The appearance of brown spots on fronds is a signal for immediate action.

Affected fronds are cut and burned, and the whole plant is treated with a fungicide, for example, "Maxim".

As a prevention of diseases, they try to water so that the stream of water does not fall into the center of the bush.

Ferns in garden design with other plants (photo)

Spectacular forest aliens bring the natural mystery of a virgin corner of nature to the atmosphere of any garden.

The plant looks great on the shore of a reservoir, along garden paths, in a tree-trunk circle, ideal for creating rutaria or rockeries, for decorating the northern shaded slopes of alpine slides.

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The fern appeared on the globe over a million years ago. To this day, it plays an important role in nature and is also used by apartments.

During the existence of the fern, more than 10 thousand species of fern have appeared, all of them differ in their interesting view and dimensions. Large species have leaves more than 0.5 meters long, it is customary to grow them on garden plots... Most often grown:

• shieldworm;
• bracken;
• ostrich;
• female kochedyzhnik.

Fern looks great on the site with any bulbous plants... In addition, the former help to stop the growth of weeds, which prevents the soil near the bulbs from drying out quickly.

The male shieldworm is planted in the shade or partial shade, it is able to form thickets. Under natural conditions, the fern grows in Siberia and the mountains of the European part of Russia.

The male dwarf does not require much attention when leaving, its maximum height is 1.5 meters, but sometimes it can stop its growth by 50 cm. The fern leaves are double pinnate, located on long petioles, as a result, a goblet rosette is obtained.

The spores are found on the underside of the leaves, with a protective layer on top. The length of the leaf itself reaches 1.5 meters, but they develop slowly. Only in the third year after planting do they fully unfold and begin to grow. And disputes dissipate in the summer.

The common bracken was named because of the shape of its leaves. By the way, a pleasant specific aroma emanates from them, this is due to the high content of tannins in them. Since tannins have anti-rotting properties, fern leaves are used to store berries and vegetables in them.

The average height of the bracken is 50-60 cm; it can develop in unfavorable conditions on dry, infertile soil. Its rhizome is widely branched, horizontal. The leaves are triple-feathery, hard, solitary. Under each lower pair of leaves there is a sweet nectary that ants go to. Spores are located on the underside of the sheet. And so that they are protected, the edge of the leaves is bent.

The common ostrich grows in the shade in humid conditions. This is with underground creeping shoots. Breeding rapidly, the ostrich forms dense thickets. Leaves can be sterile and spore-bearing, the first die off for the winter.

Due to their high decorativeness, spore-bearing leaves are used as dried flowers for composing compositions.

The female kochedzhnik prefers damp shaded areas. Its height ranges from 30 to 100 cm, the leaves are three times dissected, collected in a bunch. Spores are located on the underside of the leaf, protected by a fringed veil. Rhizome dense, before winter period its leaves die off.

All ferns look equally unusual in the garden, you need to choose the type based on personal preferences and growing conditions.

Planting ferns in the garden

Any ferns are grown only in shaded or semi-shaded areas. The soil in this place should be constantly moist, sometimes even waterlogged. The fern can be planted in places where other plants die due to lack of light. Ferns get along well in adverse conditions on soils that.

It is necessary to find out in advance to what maximum sizes a certain type of fern will grow, and, based on these parameters, determine the distance between the planting holes and the depth of the holes. If the plant is long-rooted, then it is better to increase the distance between individual representatives, since they can interfere with each other and displace. The second option is an artificial fencing of the area.

Ferns are transplanted periodically. Plants tolerate transplanting well as they have a shallow root system. Nevertheless, it is better not to disturb the plant again. The less often it is transplanted, the larger and more branches its leaves will be. When transplanting, you can immediately propagate the plant by dividing, leaving about 4 sheets.

Fern planting and transplanting is carried out in the spring, during the period of active growth. If you postpone the procedure to the end of spring or summer, then it is important not to damage the rhizome, as new ones will grow very slowly. The earth remains on the roots, and after transplanting the leaves are shaded. And in this case, the soil is well moistened. It is not necessary to deepen the growth point, because the earth will settle a little over time.

The rhizome and roots should be freely located in the planting pit, the top of the rhizome should be on the soil surface. After that, a large amount of water is poured into the pit, and earth is poured on top.

It is necessary to ensure that there is no air left, and the earth adheres well to the roots.

Although plants take root well in poor soils, it is better to organize them with a soil rich in organic matter. To do this, you can periodically fertilize the soil, or you can use special solutions instead of water when watering, for example ArganiQ for a garden and a vegetable garden.

How ferns should be grown, you can learn from the following video plot:

Fern care

The main conditions that need to be provided for the fern are high humidity and shade. The plant needs to be watered and sprayed regularly, especially in summer season and with a long absence of precipitation. Water is used soft, settled, coinciding with the ambient temperature, the water should be as little lime as possible. The water from the pipeline must settle for several days, it can be replaced with melt or rainwater.

Water the plant carefully, although ferns love moisture, an excess of water can lead to death, just like drought. Watering increases during the period of active growth, that is, in spring and summer.

If the soil is fertile, then the ferns do not need additional feeding. They have enough of those nutrients that enter plants from fallen leaves. If the growth of the fern has slowed down, the leaves have become less elastic, then fertilization is necessary. Until the leaves of the plants unwind after wintering, ArganiQ is added to the soil. The same fertilizer can be applied several times during the summer season. It is diluted in the amount of 300 grams per bucket of water.

Fern needs to be taken care of in the fall - to remove dried leaves

Leaving continues in autumn, dried leaves can be cut off, or you can wait for their natural fall. When the rest of the trees in the garden also shed their leaves, they will need to be placed under the fern to create a fertile layer and retain moisture in the soil. This will make it easier for the fern to survive the winter.

Some fern species are, which means they do not shed their plants for the winter. During their winter appearance may deteriorate, especially if there was little snow. To preserve the high decorativeness of the leaves, they are covered with spruce branches or fallen leaves.

In the spring, bad leaves are cut off, but this is done after new ones grow. Until there are new leaves, the fallen ones are not raked up, but are carefully removed by hand.

Ferns, like any other plant, can get sick. The most common problems are:

• browning of leaves of a non-infectious nature;
• leaf bronzing virus;
• false shields and shields;
• slugs and snails;
• strawberry nematodes;
• spider mite;
• thrips.

In case of fern diseases, the affected leaves are removed, the plant is treated with special solutions, and insect traps are set.

Fern breeding

Under natural conditions, ferns reproduce by spores, this makes it possible for the plant to grow rapidly and occupy large areas. The following fern methods are used at home:

• disputes;
• dividing the bush;
• rhizome mustache;
• brood buds.

A branch with spores can be found on the leaves, they are located on the lower part of the leaf and look like small tubercles. For independent reproduction of the fern with spores, the tubercles are cut off together with the leaf and dried in a paper bag. In the middle of winter, spores are sown in containers with a substrate, which is prepared according to the following scheme:

• 2 parts of peat;
• 1 piece of leafy land;
• 1 part sand.

Spores spill out over the surface of the soil, do not sprinkle with earth on top. After that, the spores are moistened with a spray bottle and covered with earth or plastic wrap. Germination occurs already in the second month. When this happens, the glass is removed to provide oxygen. During this period, the ferns look like moss. When it looks like a full-fledged plant, it is seated in separate containers. The growing pot is taken small, with a diameter of about 10 cm and a height of about 7 cm. In the spring, young ferns can be transplanted into open ground.

Not all ferns have spores, so the method of dividing the bush is used. It is ideal for long rhizome ferns such as bracken or ostrich. The method allows you to get several plants and thin out the existing specimens. The method is quite simple, the plant is dug up, divided into several parts and planted according to the planting rules, which were discussed above. This is done in the spring, when the threat of frost passes.

The rhizome whiskers propagation method is suitable for the bracken fern and nephrolepis, as well as other species that have a rhizomatous whisker. From the whiskers, shoots form over time. The mustache is buried in the soil to a depth of about 10 cm and watered thoroughly.

If the fern has brood buds, then new plants can also be obtained from them. The “kids” are detached from the leaf, placed on wet peat moss and provided with a greenhouse effect using glass or film. A shaded place is chosen for germination. After 3 weeks, young plants can be transplanted into.

Reproduction is easy and quick, so even a novice gardener can handle it.

Growing a garden fern will give a lot of pleasure to the owner of the site. The main thing is not to forget to water the plant, and nature will take care of the rest.