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Northwestern Gardening

floppy fern fronds!

14 years ago

Responding to a comment on my dealings with the dreaded convallaria (lily of the valley?), for the first time since I got this house (4 yrs) I cut back 4 large ferns down to about 2" high. They had indeed become terribly "floppy"! They new fiddle heads are emerging and I think they will be fine..... HOWEVER, at the sight of the now cleaned up area, the dratted convallaria shrieked "whoopee" and moved in at lightening speed. I can now only hope that the fresh "floppy fronds" will discourage the wretched lily pest..... we shall see!

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Comments (2)

buyorsell888
14 years ago
I cut every frond off every fern every year. Keeps them much nicer looking.
Patrick888
14 years ago
I happened to hear Cisco Morris comment on the radio yesterday that he cuts all fern fronds off every winter, usually in February, although the timing isn't very important. He cuts some, such as native sword ferns, early in the winter to pile as mulch over tender plants. I usually cut my fern fronds in the spring, about the time I see the new fiddleheads emerging.
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