THROW SHADE

WONDERS THAT LIGHT UP DARK SIDE OF GARDENING

- DIARMUID GAVIN

NOW'S the time to start refreshing some parts of my garden and this week my project was to plant ground cover under a canopy of tree ferns.

I've done a lot of soil preparation, removing weeds and stones and have covered the area with a thick layer of compost - I'm talking about six inches or more of dark, crumbly nutrient rich compost that smells of the woodland floor and will be the perfect host for my new plants.

Ferns are a natural choice for such an area. They complement the existing tree ferns and the shady floor mimics their natural woodland floor homes. I've planted a mixture of varieties, each being planted in groups of five.

Dryopteris erythrosora is a very resilient and beautiful fern it's sometimes called the Autumn Fern due to the coppery tints of the young foliage which then turn vivid green on maturity. It's a clump-forming semi-evergreen perennial.