FERNS FIRST AID

FERNS have had a grim summer. Drought and heat may have scorched their fronds or forced them into dormancy.

make sure their soil is moist. evergreen species such as polystichum may have damaged fronds. These can be cut off where the frond meets the main plant. new fronds develop in late summer. allow deciduous ferns such as Dryopteris wallichiana and common athyrium to die back naturally. Dead fronds can be removed in march. moisture loving species such as Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, might look doomed but shoots could emerge in spring.