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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
But they ARE. 
We have a few shady spots - two beds in front of the house that are under the eaves and face north, so they're in shade all day.
Then we have the west side of the house which is in full shade, with the house and the trees. I've always liked the way ferns looked and knew sooner or later, I'd buy some for these areas.
I spotted a whole section of ferns at Hitherbrook nursery today. I was waiting for ther sticker shock but the price wasn't that bad - $10 and $12 for 3 quart containers. About what I would pay for a perennial at the cheapest nursery I found - Garden Depot - but they don't have any ferns in stock.
So I picked up three Lady ferns - "Lady in Red" which has red stems and grows in a vase-like form, up to three feet tall:
 
And since the fronds are medium green and it's taller than it is wider, I wanted another kind to contrast it.
So I picked up two Wood Ferns which are a shiny, light green and have more of a horizontal growing habit:
 
If they do well, I can go for the not-so-common ones like the Japanese painted fern or Autumn fern next year:
I had no idea they were so diverse and pretty! I also never though I'd find something I really liked that grows in full shade. Apparently, they're really easy to grow too.
They do require that their soil doesn't dry out but if your shady spots are like mine, that probably isn't an issue. I also have two downspouts on that side of the house, so I think I'm going to divert one of them and use it to keep the ferns happy.
Message edited 8/9/2008 12:51:34 PM.
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Posted 8/9/08 12:51 PM  |
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cindy104
This is my "Baby"
Member since 6/08 1522 total posts
Name:
Cindy
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
very pretty!!!!
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| Posted 8/9/08 1:07 PM |
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
I love my ferns in my dense shade areas, they love it moist and dark 
BEST part is, you do nothing... next year in the spring you'll see the little fiddle heads poking up through the dirt and before you know it big beautiful ferns again!
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| Posted 8/9/08 1:13 PM |
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
I love those wood ferns! I have complete shade outside my kitchen window along the sunroom, I'm going to check these out! So pretty!
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| Posted 8/9/08 8:47 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
I love ferns but I am scared of planting them. Snakes loooove ferns too so I never plant them.
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| Posted 8/10/08 9:36 AM |
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
Posted by smdl
I love ferns but I am scared of planting them. Snakes loooove ferns too so I never plant them.
 Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap.
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| Posted 8/10/08 6:40 PM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
i have 5 of the japanese painted ferns in a bed with a bunch of hostas and 2 hydranga bushes... the bed gets only partial sun and is doing great.
i have another bed thats full shade... any suggestions?
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| Posted 8/10/08 8:50 PM |
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
Posted by smdl
I love ferns but I am scared of planting them. Snakes loooove ferns too so I never plant them.
Never heard that, I live in Timber Rattler country and haven't seen one in 7 years!
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| Posted 8/10/08 9:08 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
Beautiful! I might have to try those out next year for our shady part of the yard. Great plants and pretty too. 
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| Posted 8/10/08 9:21 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Got shade? Never knew ferns could be so pretty...
Posted by MrsKelly
i have another bed thats full shade... any suggestions?
More ferns? 
See, the problem I have with "woodland plants" as they're called is that a lot of them that grow there are invasive. I guess they have to be, in order to survive on that little sun.
I posted about finding Lily of the Valley and how happy I was until someone mentioned that it's really invasive.  They posted pictures of it growing through cracks in pavement! I don't want that problem.
I've just resolved myself to not having it all in the shade - probably no non-invasive flowers, or huge shrubby plants.
There's other ways to dress it up though, with nice accents like stones, contrasting mulch, maybe some nice garden decorations like a mossy birdbath or one of those angel statues. 
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| Posted 8/11/08 7:50 AM |
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