September 2009 Newsletter©

A Little About Clay and

A Little About Hardy Ferns

Since fall is almost upon us, and we all know “fall is for planting”, I want to talk about our clay soil and how to plant.  We cover this from time to time, but it’s worth repeating for the newcomers to our gardening class and to those of you, who like me, can’t remember a phone number from the phone book to the phone.

Repeat after me…Clay is good!  Look at all the plants growing along the roadside and in the woods.  They do great in clay, with no help from us.  The problem is not the clay; the problem is “us.  All these plants we see growing around us…just aren’t very sexy.  They do well here,  but for the most part they don’t have spectacular flowers or foliage.  We like the plants that make our neighbors say “Wow”.  But most of these “Wow” plants aren’t native to this area.  They come from areas (like the mountains) with better drainage than our soil.  So for these  plants to survive, and do well, we have to give them the conditions they like, not the conditions we have…or they die!

How many of you have killed a dogwood?  Come on, fess up!  I’ve done it too!  We plant them out in the hot sun on flat ground.  They are an under-story tree.  They like to grow under larger trees.  The prettiest ones are usually at the edge of the woodlands…in the mountains.

Azaleas…the evergreen varieties are native to the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia.  It’s difficult to bring plants “down the hill”.  Most will not appreciate soil that has more water than air.  It’s much easier to take plants “up the hill” where the soil has more air than water.

Clay particles are very small and great for water and nutrient retention.  But because they are very small, they pack tightly, which causes water to move slowly through the soil.  To grow plants that don’t like the slow water movement, we have to elevate the crown and part of the rootball above the existing soil surface. 

EVERY PLANT SHOULD BE PLANTED HIGH IN THE MID-SOUTH!

How high, depends on the plant and how moist the area is where you’re planting it.  Rhododendrons need to be 3-4” high, most azaleas and dogwoods 2-3”.  One of our Fayette County customers is growing Alaskan Cypress, Canadian Hemlocks and Giant Sequoias.  He doesn’t dig a hole.  He sets them on top the ground and builds a mound of soil around them to get excellent drainage.

DIG THE HOLE NO DEEPER THAN THE CONTAINER, BUT AT LEAST TWICE AS WIDE!

Digging a deep hole and loosening the soil, just gives more of an area for water to accumulate in.  Adding rock or gravel just creates a well.  It does nothing to help drainage, it actually makes it worse.  The wider the hole, the better it is for your plant.  When a wind or ice storm rips a tree out of the ground, you see most of the roots are in the top 12”- 18” of soil.  Roots run near the surface in our clay soil.  So you want to loosen that surface soil so the roots can quickly get established into your soil.  Your hole should be shaped like a soup bowl, becoming shallower the further you are from the plant.

DON’T OVER IMPROVE THE SOIL! 

Remember…Clay is good!  You just want to loosen the clay by adding some organic matter to it.   Do not replace the clay.  The organic matter does a couple of things.  It gives the roots pathways to follow to more quickly become established and it creates a better environment for microbes and worms which make for a healthier soil.  Plus it adds volume to your soil which increases the depth and improves drainage. The end result should be 30-40% organic matter, 60-70% clay.  There are some plants just don’t like clay and don’t perform well even when planted in improved clay soil.  They need faster drainage than the clay will allow and just will not tolerate their roots in water for even a short time. So these plants have to be planted in elevated beds like the guy above has done.  Loose, porous soil in elevated beds drains quickly and therefore dries quickly so you have to closely monitor your watering.  (I’d still want some clay in it, but probably not more than 20-30 %.)  

Now, a little about hardy ferns…

This list will give you a place to start. Copy a name and paste it in your search engine to see if it’s something you want to add to your garden.  I’ve marked a few “Coming 2010”.  These are new to Dan West and we will be offering them next spring barring a crop failure from our suppliers.  We grow, or stock, most of the others every year, although we may not have them all in stock, all of the time.

Adiantum - Maidenhair ferns like moist well drained soil in part shade. 

   A. capillus-veneris - Southern Maidenhair - Thin wiry stems, delicate blue/green foliage to 18". Deciduous. Performs best with pH around 7.

   A. hispidulum - Rosy Australian Maidenhair - Similar in appearance to the northern maidenhair except new growth has a burgundy flush, to 24". Deciduous, not as winter hardy as A. pedatum.

   A. pedatum - Northern Maidenhair - Fan shaped blue green fronds to 30" but usually less. Likes moist humus rich soil.  Deciduous.

   A. pedatum 'Miss Sharples' - Large chartreuse leaflets on thin black stems, to 15".

Arachnoides - Likes moist, well drained soil.

   A. simplicior 'variegata' - Variegated East Indian Holly Fern - Shiny dark green fronds with yellow/green variegation along the midrib and veins.  Grows to 18" tall.  Evergreen but may burn under ice.  Slow to sprout in the spring.

Coming 2010…

   A. standishii – Upside Down Fern - Large, very nice, triangular horizontal fronds. Grows to 36” tall, semi-deciduous.  It gets its name from the raised midribs and veins that give the appearance of looking at the bottom of a frond.

Athyrium - Very attractive deciduous ferns that like moist, well drained, loose, slightly acidic soil in light shade, protected from the wind.

   A. filix femina - Lady Fern - Feathery light green, erect fronds.   Can grow to 36" but 24" is more the norm.

   A. filix femina 'Dre's Dagger' - A dwarf lady fern with a thin, dark green unique criss-crossed frond, to 15". Deciduous.

   A. filix femina 'Frizelliae' - Tatting Fern - Another dwarf lady fern with thin fronds that give the appearance of a string of beads. Grows to 12". Deciduous.

   A. filix femina 'Lady in Red' - Bright green fronds with red stems to 36" tall. Deciduous.

   A. niponicum 'Burgundy Lace' - Spectacular purple new growth matures to burgundy fronds with a silver overcast. Grows to 18" tall. Deciduous.

   A. niponicum 'Pewter Lace' - Dark red midrib and nearly silver fronds, to 15" tall.  Deciduous.

   A. niponicum 'Pictum' - Japanese Painted Fern - Beautiful fronds that are a blend of red and gray/green.  To 18" tall.  Deciduous.

   A. otophorum 'Okanum' – Asian or Eared Lady Fern - Stunning cream colored fronds, tinged in red, with dark red stems, to 18". Deciduous.

   A. x 'Ghost' - Gorgeous triangular fronds that are silvery gray, to 30". Deciduous.

Coming 2010…

   A. x ‘Branford Beauty’ -  A hybrid between the Japanese Painted Fern and the Lady Fern.  Grows like a lady fern with the color of a painted fern.  To 24”, deciduous. Spreads slowly.

   A. niponicum 'Pictum' ‘Regal Red’ -  Midrib is dark purple.  Leaflets (pinnules) are twisted and purple at the base becoming bright silver at the tips.  Deciduous, to 20” tall.

Blechnum

   B. spicant - Deer Fern - Thin, stiff, dark green lance-shaped fronds normally 24" long but occasionally longer.  Forms a clump with erect fertile fronds in the clump center.  Likes moist, loose, acidic soil, high in organic matter, in part to full shade.

Cheilanthes - Needs very well drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline.

   C. argentea - Lip Fern - Pale green fronds with a silvery underside. Needs excellent drainage.  Good fern to plant in rock walls, to 8". Can be difficult.

Cyrtomium - Often used for cut foliage in floral arrangements and the holly ferns make great houseplants.

   C. falcatum - Holly Fern - Dark green, stiff fronds with large pointed leaflets that resemble holly foliage, to 24".  Evergreen.

   C. falcatum 'Rochfordianum' - Similar to above but with more deeply cut margins. Evergreen.

   C. fortunei – Fortune’s Holly Fern - Chartreuse new growth matures to a darker green.  Not as shiny as C. falcatum but more cold hardy.  Grows to 24".

Dennstaedtia - Prefers a moist well drained location.  Has a tendency to face the sun, so all fronds point the same direction.

   D. punctiloba - Hay Scented Fern - Triangular shaped fronds to 30" tall.  Spreads rapidly to form patches in light shade w/dappled sun, to heavy shade.  Drought tolerant but may become rough looking in late summer without sufficient water.  Crushed fronds smell like newly mowed hay, hence its name.

Coming 2010…

Deparia okuboana – Japanese Glade Fern – Graceful, arching fronds, much like a lady fern but larger to 48” tall.  Spreads to form small colonies.

Dryopteris - Good ferns for the Mid-South.  Most tolerate sun, drought and wind better than other ferns once established.

   D. affinis - Golden Scaled Male Fern - Lance shaped, stiff, shiny fronds to 60" tall.  Clumping form.  Semi-evergreen.

   D. celsa - Log Fern - Rich, dark green frond to 40".  Often grows on rotting logs, likes moist to wet woodland sites, but tolerates drought. Semi-evergreen.

   D. cycadina (aka D. atrata) - Shaggy Shield Fern - Stiff, leathery fronds to 36".  Likes moist, but not wet, locations.  Semi-evergreen.

   D. championii - Champion's Wood Fern - Tall triangular shaped fronds to 36".  Evergreen.

   D. erythrosora - Autumn Fern - New foliage emerges bronze and matures to green.  Spreads slowly, to 30" tall.  Evergreen

   D. erythrosora 'Brilliance' - Brilliant Autumn Fern - More intense orange color than the species, to 30" tall.  Evergreen.

   D. felix-mas - Male Fern - Stiff, 8" wide, dark green fronds to 30". Evergreen.

   D. felix-mas 'Cristata' - Crested Male Fern - Attractive fern for shady, but drier locations.  Grows to 36" tall. Evergreen.

   D. felix-mas 'undulata robusta' - Robust Male Fern - Upright fronds with distinctive wavy edge.  Rapid grower, to 48" tall.   Deciduous.

   D. ludoviciana - Southern Wood Fern - Dark green, glossy, upright fronds to 48".  Slow to spread, prefers moist, shady locations, but tolerates drought well.  Semi-evergreen.

   D. marginalis - Marginal Shield Fern - Leathery, blue/green, lance shaped fronds to 24".  Evergreen. Does not spread.

   D. x remota - Remote Wood Fern - Very attractive, erect, dark green frond to 36".  Easy to grow.   Semi-evergreen.

   D. x australis - Beautiful semi-evergreen fern to 60" tall.  Prefers moist, well drained sites, but tolerates drought once established. A natural hybrid between D. celsa and D. ludoviciana.

Coming 2010…

   D. affinis ‘Cristata - The King’ –  Crested Golden Scaled Male Fern – Fronds to 48” tall and 6” wide.  Leaflets divide at the end for a fishtail appearance. Deciduous.

   D. labordei ‘Golden Mist’ –  New growth is golden yellow.  Similar to autumn fern, but fronds are larger and more open.  Evergreen to 24” tall. 

   D. goldiana – Goldie’s Giant Wood Fern – One of the largest native ferns, to 48” tall.  Likes, cool moist areas, especially near water.  Deciduous. Spreads slowly.

   D. pycnopteroides – Japanese Wood Fern – A clumping evergreen fern with dark green, arching fronds to 24” tall.

   D. toykoensis – Tokyo Wood Fern – A clumping deciduous fern with narrow, stiff, upright fronds to 36”.

Lygodium - Moist, well drained location.  Not tolerant of wet winter soil.

   L. japonicum - Japanese Climbing Fern - Delicate small fronds with thin and wiry vines that can reach 100 feet.  Dies to the ground each year.  Although this is considered an invasive species in some areas, it can be controlled in home gardens and makes an attractive addition.  Great for along a fence or a dark corner of the garden where few other things will grow.  Just don't let it overgrow and shade other desirables.  Spreads by rhizomes

Matteuccia - Needs moist soil, intolerant of drought.

   M. struthiopteris - Ostrich Fern - Vase shaped clump with tall, lance-shaped fronds to 60".  Spreads by underground runners.  Deciduous. Tolerates heavy moist soil but grows well in any moist soil.  Best planted out of the wind.

Coming 2010…

      M. struthiopteris ‘The King’ – This is a selection of ostrich fern that is 50%, or more, larger than the native fern. Huge fronds up to 84” (yep, 7 feet) tall.  Protect from wind.

Microlepia - Moist soil, spreads but has a clumping appearance. Deciduous.

   M. strigosa - Lace Fern - Delicate, arching, lacy fronds to 24".  Likes moist, well drained soil in part to full shade.

Onoclea - Needs a moist location.  Performs best if fronds are not removed in the winter.

   O. sensibilis - Sensitive Fern - Bright green, coarse fronds to 48". Spreads by spores and runners to quickly colonize an area.  Gets its name from the fact that it suffers quickly from even a little frost.   Likes moisture, do not allow to dry.

Osmunda - As with most ferns, Osmunda ferns do well in rich, moist, well drained soil.  They will tolerate some sun with ample water. Best grown out of the wind.

   O. cinnamonea - Cinnamon Fern - Very tall sterile green fronds form a clump from the center of which rises narrow cinnamon colored fertile fronds. Grows normally to 36" but can reach 60".  Deciduous.

   O. claytonia - Interrupted Fern - Spreading vase shaped clumping fern to 48".  Deciduous.

   O. regalis - Royal Fern - Fronds have very large leaflets (pinnae). Likes moist to wet locations, grows to 36". Deciduous. Spreads slowly.

Coming 2010…

   O. regalis var. regalis – European Royal Fern – Larger, fuller fronds than the American royal fern.  Likes boggy areas, grows to 60” tall.  Deciduous.  Keep moist.

Phegopteris - Tolerates a little sun but prefers moist, shady locations.

   P. decursive-pinnata - Japanese Beech Fern - One of the most attractive ferns.  Good groundcover fern that spreads readily and likes a moist, well drained area.  Grows to 12" tall.  Deciduous.  Aka Thelypteris decursive-pinnata.

Polypodium – This one is an epiphyte that gets it's nutrients from the air and rain.  It grows attached to trees but does not feed from them.  We don’t stock this fern but we have questions about it often, so I thought I would include it in the list.

   P. polypodiodes - Resurrection Fern - Unique fern that grows on the trunks and limbs of trees.  Evergreen fronds up to 12" long that curl and appear brown until moistened, then appear to "resurrect' quickly and return to life. 

Polystichum - Evergreen ferns that perform well in the Mid-South.  Prefer moist, well drained locations in full to part shade.

   P. acrostichoides - Christmas Fern - Lance shaped leaves, up to 36" long.  Erect new growth lies over as it matures.  Evergreen.

   P. makinoi - Olive green, shiny, erect foliage to 24". Evergreen.

   P. polyblepharum - Tassel Fern - Dark green, stiff, shiny fronds to 48".  Forms a vase shaped clump, likes a moist, well drained location.  Evergreen.

   P. tsus-simense - Korean Rock Fern - Lance shaped dark green fronds to 15".  Likes moist, well drained area, do not allow it to dry. Evergreen.

Coming 2010…

   P. setiferum plumoso-multilobum – Soft Shield Fern – A clumping, semi-evergreen fern to 24” tall.  Fronds are thick and lacy, very nice fern.

Rumohra - Like very well drained locations.  Does well in rock walls and on shady slopes.

   R. adiantiformis - Leatherleaf Fern - Dark green, shiny triangular shaped fronds used often in floral arrangements. Grows to 24" tall.

Selaginella -Not a true fern, but easy to grow.  Plant in shade to part shade areas with well drained, woodland soil.  Likes a moist area, do not allow to dry.

   S. braunii - Arborvitae Fern - Leathery dark green leaves to 12" tall.

   S. pallescens - Moss Fern or Spike Moss - Neither a moss or a fern, but beautiful fern-like foliage, to 10" tall and occasionally more.

   S. uncinata - Peacock Fern - Tiny blue/green, fern-like foliage, tinged with pink and yellow, to 6" tall.

Thelypteris - Good ferns for moist locations.  Can become invasive.

   T. kunthii (aka T. normalis) - Southern Shield Fern or Wood Fern - Very attractive arching fronds to 36". Spreads to form colonies with favorable conditions.  Likes a little sun if moist, but tolerates drought well. Deciduous. .

   T. palustris - Marsh Fern - Likes moist to wet soils. Erect lance-shaped fronds. Typically 24" tall but in favorable locations can reach 48". Deciduous.

Woodwardia - Prefers a moist location.  Very tall, plant in an area protected from wind.

   W. virginica - Virginia Chain Fern - Large, dark green, shiny fronds to 48".  Likes moist sandy or humus rich soil.  Tolerates sun with sufficient moisture, can be invasive.

The response to last month’s “Enter Me” contest was very good.    However, this month, we are going back to a plant identification contest.  Get one plant below correct and get one entry into the contest.  Get two correct and you get two entries into the contest.  Get three correct and you get five entries into the contest.  I prefer the botanical name, but I’ll accept the most commonly used name that correctly identifies the plant.  If one were a holly, the answer “holly” will not qualify you.  I need to know “which” holly.

The contest ends on September 15^th.  Drop by either store to enter or you can email your entry to questions@danwestonline.com. One winner, selected from all correct entries, will receive a

$25 Dan West Gift Certificate.

Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.