We're planning a garage. Sadly, town requirements have forced us to locate in an area that is basically a fern field (Osmunda cinnamomea). I'm sick about it, but I also want a garage. And we're willing to relocate them... but I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. I can tell you the rhizomes look like giant Brillo pads!

Is it necessary to take the entire rhizome, or can we simply cut through them, leaving some and take the plant to its new location? I would like to "lose" some lawn for the new fern field, what must I do to make the site more appealing to the relocated Osmundas (the site it partially shady, VERY moist), esp. with respect to pH?