Ferns

[snowowl]

Hi can anyone tell me if you can split ferns?I have a pot bound plant it is not a tree fern and i wonderd if you can get a spade into it and split i was hoping to plant it up in a shady area of the garden.
But its so compact it looks like i could get more plants of it but i dont know if you can split them.

[Ruthie]

I know you can split some ferns 'cos I've done it, but only with the Harts tongue fern. Stands to reason that some can be split. Do you know what type it is?

[snowowl]

Sorry SR i dont know what it is.

[oldmoleskins]

Have sometimes inadvertantly damaged a chunk while digging, Snowy - and have noticed that if transplanted the 'bit' seems to take ages to make any sort of plant - so I had a look in my propagation bible, RHS 'Propagating Plants'...

Says there that for many simple(!) division is ok in Spring, but goes on to list others that have different requirements - so an ID may be important. Could you get a copy from the library? RHS 'Propagating Plants' Alan Toogood.

OM.

[Dutchy]

gardening.savvy-cafe.com/how-to-split-up-your-ferns-without-harming-them-2007-03-16/

This has quite a bit of information. Not sure if it will help as you must first identify your fern.
But if it is going to die as it is I would risk it.
Or plant as it is and have an instant grown up fern clump in the garden.
It will spread from there.
Good luck

[snowowl]

Thank you SR OM and Dutchy for the info.To be honest my husband who works for the council had this fern bought into him at the depot.
It had been in a pot and someone had thrown it away it is still very much alive and he knows i dont like to see plants go to waste so thats the reason i cant ID it.
But as you say i think i will plant it whole just incase.I do have a perfect place for it.
Dutchy that is a good website im tempted now.