12 — Friday, January 27, 1995 — North Shore News

PT CUR TIN LET OMA MOE AAR LEE EESTI TLE RATE EDGE FEY AEN NIE RG ESRC GSAS,

From page 14

grow ina forested setting where 4
natural Jeaf mould will develop
above the root structure.

Try to approximate this leaf
mould with a layer of compost or
mulch. This will help keep the
fern cool and moist and provide a
slow but steady source of nutri-
ents.

It is possible to propagate ferns
in several ways but check first to
see which growth pattern the fern
has.

Some ferns form multiple
crowns which can be divided and
replanted. Others form rhizomes
or rhizomatous roots and sections
of the root can be severed and dug
to form new plants. A small group
of ferns form buds or offsets that
may be separated and replanted.

Propagation by spores will pro-
duce new plants, but it will
require a year or more. Fill a shal-
low wide-mouth glass jar half full
with moist mica-peat and sprinkle
the spores on the surface.

Cover the container with plas-
lic wrap and seal with an elastic

Parpewace &

o “we Ket 9 ms PD, Gti
Cg Sen ee re

ea

aaditions now

bund. Place the container in indi-
rect light and keep the tempera-
ture between 18°C and 18°C until
the spores develop a prothalus.

This will look like a tiny Mat
green leaf lying on the surface of
the peat. As the prothalus devel-
ops the male and female parts of
the spore come together and form
atuiny new fern.

When the sporlings are large
enough, pick them out of the
mica-peat and pot (hem up.
Transplant them out in the garden
when they are three to four in.
(eight to 10 cm) high.

The only annual maintenance
that hardy ferns require is the
removal of the fronds in the
spring. All the ald fronds should
be cut off in March just before the
new shoots (fiddle heads) emerge.

The old fronds can be ground
into a mulch with a power mower
and placed at the base of the fern
or added to the compost for next
year’s compost mulch.

There are a half dozen ferns
that are native to our area and all
but one is useful in the garden,
The Bracken or Brake fern

(Meridium aquilinan) grows ona
tall central stock up to six ft high
and is a weed.

The Lady fern (Athyrium felix:

femina), Deer fern (Blechnum spi-

cant), Sword fern (Palystichum
auminm). Maidenhair (Aspleniion
trichomanes) and Licorice fern
(Polypodinm glycyrrhiza) ate alt
good garden plants when used in
the right place.

With the growing interest in
ferns, more nurseries are begin-
ning to-carry a better selection of
the hardy varieties. Heritage
Perennials fists more than 25. vari-
eties and Raincoust Gardens also
have a good selection,

The biggest grower in the
Pacific Northwest is Barfod's
Hardy Ferns, 23622 Bothell Way,
Bothell, WA., 98021, For $1.50
U.S. they will send you an excel-
lent catalogue and guide on hardy
ferns,

Now is the lime to start plan-
ning for new additions or renova-
Uons to your garden. An casy-care
hardy fern should be high on your
list. Check your local nursery to
see what they have available.

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