Tree Fern Spring Care - Dicksonia Antartica Feeding, Watering & Frost Protection
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2024
- Today's video is about spring care for Dicksonia antartica tree ferns, with tips on frost protection, feeding and watering for growing these beautiful plants in your U.K. tropical style or exotic garden. I also discuss care tips for new tree fern trunks, potted tree ferns and also young ferns which might require a bit of TLC. Hopefully these tips help your tree fern, whether it’s in a pot, container or the ground and we get to enjoy the spectacle of new fronds flushing in the spring sun very soon.
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0:00 Intro
0:22 Tree fern conditions & realities following UK winter frosts, snow & storms
1:45 Dicksonia antartica winter & spring crown frost protection
3:35 Protecting tree fern new growth from late spring frosts
5:23 Feeding Dicksonia antartica tree ferns in spring - fertilisers & soil improvements
8:14 Watering tree ferns in spring - automatic irrigation & preventing narrowing crowns & small fronds
10:56 Should you chop off green or brown old tree fern fronds?
12:44 Spring care for new tree fern logs UK, young tree ferns and potted ferns
13:23 Frost protection and care tips for young Dicksonia antartica tree fern plants
15:03 Care tips & advice for when you buy new tree fern Dicksonia antartica trunks UK
17:11 Spring care tips for tree ferns in pots & containers - winter frost care, watering & feeding
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Thanks,
George - Навчання та стиль
Hi George, Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your amazing knowledge, we bought our 1st 2 trees ferns last September and they both survived. Have to confess I didn't think the 3ft one would but followed your instructions and hey presto I have at least 9 new fronds in the crown, absolutely delighted. Thank you, Keeley from Southampton🌴
Hi Keeley and apologies for my delayed reply. That's fantastic news, it's great to hear they're doing well - you're obviously doing a top job with them and they should do well for you in Southampton. I hope they go from strength to strength for you!
Thank you for making this video, having lost 7 tree ferns in the winter of 2022. I've taken the expensive plunge of replacing some of them and also bought some very young potted Tree ferns, that I've been keeping in my conservatory. Although I already knew how to care for them, this advice on new logs and small ferns has come at the perfect time, I shall be moving the small ones out to a sheltered spot and watch out for the frosts. Thanks again, I always love you videos
Hi Dianne, thank you very much and I'm sorry to hear about your losses in that cold winter spell. What temperatures did you get down to? Happy to help provide info and all the best with your new tree ferns, I hope they grow very well for you in the spring sun!
@GeorgesJungleGarden hi George, we went down to -11, that we monitored, but it may have been lower. I am thinking of how to go forward with extra winter protection, if it ever goes as cold again as I had procted them well. Not sure how yet, but I have a bit of time to come up with something
Hi Diane, that is tricky to deal with, especially in combination with the longer duration of freezes we have but I do know of somebody who got his through similar temperatures without heating them - just by really wrapping them up with multiple layers and packing them well with more insulating material than just fleece. I've even heard of others using sleeping bags! Something to think about but yes, hopefully not a reality we'll have to deal with for a while!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden yes, I will have to work something out. Thanks for the advice
Thank you for this George. I got my first tree fern last year. Just a little one as a tester. It survived the winter, but as the new fronds started to emerg they were looking really ropey and one snapped today. I have def picked up some tips from this video and I think more water and I probably uncovered it too quickly. Fingers crossed it will make a recovery with some tlc, especially as I have just invested in a 3ft one 😉
Hey and apologies for my delayed reply. Hopefully your little one is making a full recovery and congratulations on your new fern addition!
Some gorgeous photography there .
Thanks, trying to improve my vids visually where I can and work in more clips (rather than just having me talking!).
Thanks George
Thanks Janine, I hope it was helpful!
thanks george i was worring about my young tree fern as theres no green at all yet BUT you come to save my day again and take the stress out of tropicals George also cannot wait to see your jungle in september i have also ordered my vivax feed that you was talking about a little while ago !! you the man George mny mny thanks buddy take care . all the best Julian
Hey Julian and thanks - yes, there's no rush to see anything just yet! Nice one on the Vitax, I'm sure it'll work well for you! Yes, hopefully everything is settling in well here and will grow well this year. I'm not going all out on a display this year, very much focusing on progressing a couple of projects but a lot of the plants are at the point now where they'll really take off which will be exciting to see! I hope you get chance to enjoy some spring sun this weekend and all the best.
I was looking at them in the garden center I was fascinated but not a clue about them having just watched you brilliant video am thinking yes let’s give them a go thanks
Thanks Danny and I'm pleased to hear it was helpful!
I still don't know if I will ever be brave enough to get a tree fern, bit if I did I will certainly be armed with all the knowledge you have 😊
Thanks and I hope you come across a lovely and sensibly priced smaller one on your travels! Happy to help as always and thanks for watching!
@GeorgesJungleGarden If I see any good prices I will let you know. I certainly visit enough Garden Centres, seems to be a favourite hobby of mine
Thanks! Haha yes, me too, a good way to spend an hour even if you don't buy anything!
I really need a bigger tree fern!
I definitely love what my larger trunks add to the garden here, in retrospect I wish I'd gone for another large one when I could but that's hindsight! One things for sure, they'll likely be cheaper this year than in five years time!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden haha yes I am going to be on the scout out this year. The impact is immense. The bigger the better!
Very true, good luck with your hunt for one!
My tree ferns are in the most protected and shady part of the garden that I can give them. However in the height of summer they do get a good few hours of full afternoon sun. They are on a irrigation system and get watered for 5 minutes twice a day and I also drench the trunks every other day in summer. Mine are very similar to yours George this year. With a mix of green and brown fronds. But I am happy it was a mild winter as two were only planted last year.
That sounds like a lovely spot for them, they'll handle the sun with the consistent watering they're getting. I think the drenching is what really helps isn't it - great for upping the humidity. I'm pleased your two newer ones have had a good start and hopefully with all this rain they'll be poised for some lovely big fronds very soon!
Great video George, direct and very informative info, on probably the most expensive plants in most people’s gardens, I have 3x 7ft two are bright green and done fantastic over this winter, but as you said in the video, with my last on it’s 50/50 brown and green due to a crosswind where it’s situated. Cheers Paul.
Thanks Paul, that's appreciated and yes, with them being such a high value plant, it's well worth knowing how to care for them and how to recognise signs that they're struggling and how to reverse them. Yeah, it's a shame we had that cold spell but at least we'll have new green fronds to look forwards to very soon!
Great advice as usual George,my Tree fern still has its first fronds and last years green ones and new crosiers sitting level ready for take off .😂
Nice one Paul, thanks and great work! Hopefully it looks better than ever this year then!
👌👌👌👌
Thanks man!
As always, a great video, thanks for sharing. I was going to ask if it was easy to relocate a tree fern as you did in one of your previous videos, however, I bit the bullet and moved it on Saturday. Despite it being 4ft and heavy, it was one of the easiest plant relocations I've completed. I have fronds emerging on the new tree fern, I keep the centre covered with straw to disguise it from the squirrels in my area, they seem to think the knuckles are nuts and rip them out before they have a chance to unfurl.
Thank you very much and yes, it sounds like you did a great job. I'd say now is around the optimal time of year to get them moved as the soil is warming but still moist. If they haven't been in long then they are easy to move, mine was during winter. Luckily squirrels aren't an issue I've faced here but I've seen several posts on FB about them being a problem - hopefully your straw works and you're able to enjoy a lush display of new fronds very soon!
I have a potted tree fern, lives next to the house and the fronds are untouched. Throwing out alot of new growth aswell 😃
Amazing, it shows the value of a sheltered spot doesn't it! Mine used to be mostly green at our old house and for colder areas growing more tender plants closer to houses really is a huge benefit. I'm pleased to hear it's thriving for you!
Great video George. I have one that is a massive 2 inch tall. It gets 2 chicken manure pellets and a napkin size fleece in the winter.
Not sure why I bother. I am at the age I will never see it in its full glory at 6 /8 ft.
Hi Fraser and thanks. As I mentioned in this video, even the smaller plants develop into large, stunning ferns within a few years so it's by no means a futile effort to get a plant with impact. With TLC and the right spot they can grow significantly faster than the 1-2 inches often thrown around so hopefully yours continues to establish well and you have an impressive plant with a large wingspan sooner than you expect! Much more impressive then a recently bought and poorly cared for larger trunk in my book.
@GeorgesJungleGarden
Many Thanks George. I purchased it last year from Edinburgh zoo who had a plant sale on. Will keep giving it the same love I give all my other plants. 😉
Nice one Fraser, pleased to hear it and I'm sure it'll thrive for you!
i have a dripper on top of the trunk...the pomp drips 5 min 4 times a day....water from a pond
Nice one, that sounds about ideal to keep that crown happy through the year!
Oh damn I want a tree fern!!! But I live in Northern Indiana
They are amazing plants! How cold does it get for you in winter?
That was the next plant on my list to get, our local garden centre has lots of different sizes, which vary in price... knowing your a busy man 😉.... it is my first year really growing Bananas ... Musa Basjoo and Musa Sikkimensis Red Tiger .. any chance of a video specifically on them ?
Nice one Mark, you won't regret it! I've covered some elements of banana growing in my earlier vids and might revisit it at some stage, the only thing I'd say is that sikkimensis isn't as hardy as basjoo - but in your location you should have a great chance of getting it through winter without an issue. Maybe just one to prioritise the wrapping of when the time comes whilst it's small.
Thank you so much for this, I have a tree fern in a large pot which I have had since 2019, I have repotted it once but need to plant it out now. Is wind a problem for its final planting place, and would it be best to plant it near the house so it gets some protection? Thank you Su
Hi george , ive just spent ten mins texting u, some one called me mobile and everything dissapeared!!!!!!☹️. All me ferns are unwrapped, got lots of growth in all of em, the one near me house and in part sun had a frond about a foot long! I always remove last years fronds when i unwrap them- never had any prob by doing that , its my preference , i dont like looking at dead fronds. Alls well here in kent, just waiting for more sun etc so i can plant me new T rex. Ps ive eventually got three bags if6x vitax, 9.99 a bag from a nusery near canterbury. Great price that! Ps - dont arf chuck up dont it!😂 All the best mate . Regards Steve.👍🌴
Hi Steve, sorry to hear that, I've had similar happen and it's annoying! I'm pleased to hear yours are growing away well and definitely more advanced than mine here. Yeah, if there's brown on the old fronds, I understand chopping them off. I have to make videos knowing some people are experienced growers, others might be complete beginners, some value a very tidy garden, others want something more naturalistic etc. I think the main thing is that you're waiting until spring by which point the new croziers will be developing and only removing the fronds once brown - that's a lot better than just chopping all the green ones prior to wrapping them in early winter. Hopefully it warms up soon and that's a good price on the 6X for sure. All the best and I hope your garden is full of fresh new growth and more sun very soon!
The one i bought for Angela for christmas has kept all its huge green frons by using your tips, next to the house etc but absolutely no sign of new ones.
Nice one, that's great and the weather has certainly been helpful in that regard (alongside your rigorous TLC obviously!). It's not a bad thing to not be seeing new croziers just yet, I prefer them as late as possible to hopefully avoid any frost issues!
so can they cope with quite strong winds without snapping .. mine will be behind the fence but fronds over the top will get full wind ?
Hi, it’s ideally avoided but they can handle it just fine. Strong winds can be an issue when the new fronds are opening out but there’s not much you can do ultimately and they’re generally fine. Plants do adapt to the conditions and often tree ferns in sunnier or windier locations will have shorter fronds which prove to be more wind resistant.
Hi George, I have my first DA (small, new plant - no trunk) and I'm struggling to decide where to plant it. I take it they would prefer the more shaded area of the garden rather than the side that gets a lot of sun? I know it'll be YEARS before I see a trunk, but want to make sure I've planted it in the right location. Thanks.
Hi Jon, they do grow quicker than you might expect, especially in a suitable location. Personally I'd prioritise shade and a sheltered spot especially. They can handle most conditions in UK gardens (with winter protection) but a sheltered and more shaded spot will mean less watering required, the fern will have longer fronds and ultimately will be healthier with less effort. There's also a lot of other plants that would love life in the sunnier side of your garden!
Have you ever lost a Tree Fern over winter George? The hard winter 2 years ago killed off my short 2ft one. I had Hay in the crown and it was in a corner by a fence and some nearby plants. Don’t think I could have done much else besides wrap it in Fleece. Just unlucky I guess
Hi, I have indeed, a couple of smaller trunks and a trunkless specimen. Unfortunately even with fleecing there's only so much cold a trunk can take, particularly with the duration of the freeze during that spell and the previous stress of the heatwave and hot, dry summer. The bigger and chunkier trunks seem better equipped to deal with the cold but I'd definitely recommend fleecing them if similar conditions are forecast again. Some plants are just stronger and tougher than others and I hope you're able to give another one a go some time.
@@GeorgesJungleGardenI guess these are just the risks we take jungle gardening in the UK, I have a 5ft one so i'm hoping to see some signs of life in that again this year.
Very true unfortunately but I hope you see some signs of growth in the 5ft trunk very soon.
I lost my only tree fern to The Beast From The East. I haven’t been able to bring myself to pay the prices they are now!
Oh dear, sorry to hear that - it really was a cold blast wasn't it. I know what you mean, the prices themselves are one thing but when you know that they've gone up 3x to 5x in past 5-10 years it's hard to stomach. I only briefly acknowledge that I bought mine a good few years ago because I wouldn't be able to afford to or justify buying them again now.
How do you stop squirrels gnawing at the emerging fronds. They are an absolute nightmare.
Hi, apologies for the delayed reply. Luckily it's not a problem I've had to face hear but I've seen others who have and the damage to the plants must be frustrating beyond words. I've seen some people construct a wire mess 'hat' for the ferns while the croziers go from being in the crown to opening up, I imagine that shields them quite well for the period when they're particularly vulnerable to damage but equally, it's hard making anything work 100% without risking causing more mechanical damage to the new fronds. If I come across any particularly ingenious methods I'll come back to this comment.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for the response. I’ve grown tree ferns before. I moved house leaving my 30 year old tree ferns behind. I bought two new ones for my new garden and the local squirrels went crazy! Never seen anything like it. Chewed the new fronds off and ripped bits of the trunk off. I am all for live and let live however…
Oh dear, that must be gutting! Apologies for the delayed reply. I hope you're able to find some way of protecting them and please let me know if you find anything that works especially well.