Garden ferns generally prefer shade. The fern is even one of the few plants that grow profusely on a shady spot. However, other ferns thrive in the full sun. So there is a fern species for every garden. To put it even stronger, because the fern is a nostalgic, somewhat mysterious plant that emanates tranquillity, no garden should do without it.
Evergreen or deciduous
We can subdivide garden ferns into three groups.
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Ferns that shed their leaves in autumn or winter will grow new leaves in spring that develop in the underground stem and, as it were, 'roll out'. This means every spring your garden has a new, fresh fern. Evergreen ferns do not shed their leaves and give the garden a green aspect in winter as well.
Garden types
Ferns come in a wide variety of colours, shapes and heights. They can be used in the following garden types:
1. Regular garden
2. Shady garden
3. Humid garden
4. Rock garden
5. Japanese garden
The fern's location in the garden (shade/semi-shade/sun) and its water requirements (much or little water) mainly determine whether a fern is suitable for your garden. Various fern species feel at home in a container on your balcony or terrace. In addition, some fern species are excellently suitable for public spaces: in verges and roundabouts, as ground cover in parks and gardens, and along ponds and in wet areas.
Easy plant
Ferns are easy plants. They hardly require attention and they grow on any soil, as long as they can take up sufficient water and nutrients. They do thrive best on soil that is rich in humus.