Planting Ferns In Gutters

Create a succulent garden on a wall.

Planting ferns in gutters.

The best plants for erosion control are those ground covers or shrubs that are vigorous attractive and have a root system effective at holding back soil on a hill. Pack the soil firmly because your plants won t have a lot of soil to grow. A bed of ferns adds greenery to shaded garden beds supplying an attractive ground cover in areas where few other plants thrive. Keep weeds under control during the fern growing season.

Get the fern started indoors especially if you live in an area with unreliable weather for your particular breed of fern. This will allow the excess water to be drained. To make the job more manageable and avoid the need for heavy machinery try to divide the plants up first. Plant pansies in spring and fall or alyssum creeping phlox petunias in summer.

Because these ferns love high humidity they are great plants to grow in your bathroom if you have a window providing plenty of indirect light. Don t forget to water them regularly. Fill the gutters with soil to be about half full. How to make a gutter garden.

Add some fertilizer and fill the rest of the gutter with soil. Drill small holes in the bottom of the gutters. Mulches can be used to help retain moisture in soil and maintain even soil temperatures. Few pests bother ferns other than the passing slug which will devour nearly anything.

Choose gutters with open space. Asplenium nidus growing conditions. How to grow fern plants. Spring planting is preferable where winters are cold and wet.

All types of ferns require a different climate however most prefer a hot humid atmosphere. They can be split and transplanted in spring or fall. All ferns feature leafy fronds and. Medium to bright light and high humidity.

Old gutters that have not rusted may be appropriate for the project. Grow the fern indoors until you begin to see multiple leaves spring out from the center. Some sources say they ve purchased them new and inexpensively. If you live in deer country they should also be plants that deer tend not to eat.

Alternate freezing and thawing may heave the rhizomes from the soil breaking young roots and exposing them making them prone to desiccation. Weeds compete with fern plants for water space and nutrients so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their germination. If ferns are planted late in the season in these areas the roots could very well rot before they are established. They can be split and transplanted in spring or fall.

Planting a fern garden outdoors requires minimal attention other than regular mulching and water during very dry periods. The following list gives you a variety of choices each of which meets these criteria.