Boston Ferns

 

I have a huge sunny backyard and a lot of sun loving plants. But I love Boston Ferns, and have found a few places to work them into my garden and covered deck.

 

This is an old coke cooler (complete with bottle opener),  that I bought at a local junk sale last fall.  I have kept it in the storage unit, waiting to pressure wash and redecorate my deck.

 

Another fern has found a home on this old chest with my barn birdhouse and tractor.  The tractor holds a citronella candle and matches.  The mosquitoes are pretty bad due to all the spring rains we had.

This old metal chair sits under 1 of 3 trees we planted around the patio a few years ago to provide a little shade in our sunny back yard.

Here’s a few tips to keep your fern looking good all summer long:

• Shade or indirect light
• Keep the soil moist but not soggy
• Fertilize monthly with a fertilizer for ferns, or 2 Tablespoons Epsom Salts in a gallon of water.
• Mist or lightly spray with the hose weekly

 

I purchased this old canvas bin over 10 years ago and it has been in the house, on the deck, and now in the yard the last few years.  The bottom has finally began to rot out, so it will probably be back on the deck this fall.

I don’t bring my ferns in for the winter because they are inexpensive (10.00 each in my area), and I don’t have the room.  If you want to bring yours in, you can cut them back to about 3-4 inches before bringing in, or wait until spring.  In the spring, fertilize, and it will have regrowth in a few weeks.  Repot with fresh soil, since they usually become root bound.  I would love to have a small greenhouse to over winter some.

Boston ferns are a great addition to your porch, deck, or a shady spot in your yard.

Karen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston ferns have the following growing requirements.