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Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold??
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Posted by Louholla South East UK (My Page) on Sat, Oct 1, 05 at 10:44
| Hi,
Some of you may remember my old post from the summer asking for help with planting the above.
Well i took the advice and it is growing fantastically and grew 8 more new huge fronds in August.
The problem i need help with now is how to protect it when it gets colder. Some people have suggested i cut off the fronds and cover the top with staw and fleece and others have said dont cut the fronds as it affects the next years amount of fronds! So what do people suggest? I thought of maybe tying up the fronds above the trunk and filling the middle part(where the fronds grow from) with straw and then covering the outside of the fronds with fleece? What do you think? Would the fronds rot that way? Would it get enough sun?
Lou xx |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| I would buy some horticultural fleece and wrap it around the plant this will keep it warmer than the outside temperature. Or if it's not to big and you can easily move it (if it is in a pot)and you have a glasshouse then bring it indoors. Thats what I would do. |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Hi Fonzie47, Thanks, It's in the ground unfortunately. Do you mean wrap it around the trunk or the fronds and top part of trunk? When will i need to start doing this? and when its done do i need to check it frequently or just leave it until the frosts stop? When technical support have advised me how to i will upload a picture. Lou xx |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| How much frost are you expecting? You 'should' be fine to around -5C. And is the fern under 4' high still? If yes: get four sturdy stakes and put them in the ground to make a square around the fern at least 60cm/2' away from the trunk and topping the fronds by around 30cm. Put railings around the top and across the middle so fabric won't sag down onto the frond head. Using either fleece/frost cloth, or old-fashioned sacking, close in the square and fasten the protection with tacks or the thin staples similar to those you'd use to fasten two pieces of paper together but a bit sturdier. It has to stand up to any windy spells over the winter. Cover with fleece when you expect a 'cracker frost' or a snowfall but otherwise leave uncovered. You may also choose to add a thick but airy mulch around its rooting system. Once it gets to having ten-foot long fronds some other ploy may be necessary such as a pergola and winter roofing but there're years to save up for that...;-) |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Hi Vetivert8, Thanks for that I live in South East London but i have been told that the whole of a the UK should expect a very harsh winter this year and that was from someone who deals in the oil trade!!! My fern is about 3ft high at the moment and the fronds are about 1ft ish. Once i have put the wooden stakes in the ground do you mean then cover the whole wooden frame with fleece? And what do you mean about covering the fleece if there is a cracker frost? I thought the fleece was there to stop the frost but if not what do i cover the fleece with? and (Sorry if i sound a bit thick) Is it ok if the fleece gets wet? and if the fern doesnt get enough light because it is covered will it harm it?
Lou xx |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| We've never protected our Dicksonias and they've had at least -6 C without so much as a browning of the fronds. I admit that they're a bit taller at around 5ft and the higher off the ground the safer the crown is. What some people do is to stuff a bundle of hay or similar into the crown and tie a piece of plastic over the top to keep the rain off, without stopping air circulation. It's the crown that gets frosted, not the trunk, and the fronds will soon grow again if they get killed off. Good luck, Maurice. |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Thanks Maurice that is exactly what i thought, to cover the crown, i was told that before by someone i think i will do what you suggest if we have a bad winter as ive heard. I have bark chippings all around the base so that should help the bottom Lou xx |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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I've seen these wraped in horticultural fleece from top to bottom and tied off at the top, middle and bottom (not to tight)snugly around the plant.
When you're sure of forth coming frost (watch for weather forecasts) do the deed.
You should'nt need to check it, it should be fine all going well. Good luck. |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Oh ok thanks Fonzie47 Lou xx |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Look Ive seen these things growing in southern Tasmania covered in snow - they are very cold tolerant. Dont worry too much about protecting it from the cold and even if the fronds do brown off it will shoot fresh fronds in the spring. I would avoid cutting the fronds off unnecesarily as this will eventually weaken the plant. Like I said if they can take a Tasmanian winter they should definately do well in milder parts of the UK. |
RE: Dickisona Antartica (Tree Fern), Protecting it from the cold?
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| Well, friends and family don't protect theirs up in the Midlands so the need for protecting Dicksonia antarctica in South East London is extremely slight. British summers pose far greater problems due to heat accompanied by lack of sufficient moisture. As Footfull says, they are extremely hardy and our winters pose no threats to them at all. As to the likelihood of a harsh winter, that's largely speculation based upon probabilities of harsh winter occurring every so many years. No-one can predict so far ahead and these 'reports' are invariably hyped-up beyond all reason. |
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