Removing western sword fern (polystichum munitum)

I have about 150 of these and would like to reduce the number to 75 or so. Does anybody have experience with digging them out?

http://www.nwplants.com/plants/ferns/pol_mun_index.html

Oh Katie looks can be deceiving. They suck to dig out. They have a heavy big root ball and are harder than you think to dig up. Manly equipment works best. Heidi

Dang - no man, no manly equipment. They do look to me like they'd be tough to dig out - I was hoping for a different answer, Heidi. especially since they're in clay, which grabs hold of things and won't let go. Argh!!!!

This year I'm chopping them all way back - good leaves and damaged leaves. They are all splayed out because of the snow and I hate that look.

I chop mine back every year. Also, use a blowtorch or weed burner on them. Just brush it over the top and they really put on a good show after that.

I've found the best way to do anything with them is to use either the root knife from Lee Valley tools, or use a small saw with fine serrations. Sometimes you have good luck with cutting around the entire base of the fern before trying to get it out. But I really like the ferns so I don't remove many of them. I have removed a couple of really big old ones, though, and they are a real pain.

Just cut all the fronds off at the ground this month or next. They'll regenerate with fresh new growth very quickly. I haven't tried Pixy's blow torch treatment....but have to say I'm intrigued. I'm gonna give it a try. I love these ferns for their low-maintenance requirements and the cool, lush feeling they impart. I hope I haven't created a monster by tucking them in all over the place.

I usually trim them back around the rim. This year I'm cutting them all the way down as they're laying flat from the snow. They also hide the native dewberry that I'm still fighting.

I do have a Hori Hori knife (one of two tools I think every gardener should have) and I'll probably use that to try to get them out. I lifted a bunch of Pacific Iris to divide them last fall and simply could not have done it without that knife.

The problem is, digging a mature sword fern out with a knife is gonna be time-consuming - especially when you have an acre full!!

What's the benefit of the blow torch, Pix? Just that you burn the old fronds as you're "pruning"?

Katie, There is no easy way to pull them out. I removed a bunch of big ones at St. Andrews by hammering in my weed cutter to cut the wiry roots all the way around and then using a pry bar to get them out. Hard work but good for the waistline. ^_^ Around my yard, I love them but, I only let them grow for a few years and then I rip them out and let more babies come up. They can get up to 4' high and wide which is too big for my little spaces.

Thanks, Patricia. It sounds like it's about leverage and getting dirty. ^_^ I did just talk to my neighbor, who says he used a pick around the edges and then "just picks them up and shakes them off." He's an old farm boy, so I think he's used to working heavy labor in a large scale. I'll have to give him a hard time after I get my first one out and it's not quite that easy . . .

Kathy ask him if he can come over and demonstrate for you. Make him feel important and HE-manish.

Pick will work great. Mine were in a rockery and I had no room to swing a pick.

:-) Smart move - he grew up with several sisters, so he might be on to that technique, but I can always try.

I have a full-sized mattock and I'll try that. I got about 25 trimmed back today, so I can see the beds to clean them out. I'm definitely excited about removing them - as nice as they are for green, there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing." There are several very mature ones with bases about a foot across. I think I'll start with the little ones . . .

If tomorrow is as nice as today, nothing can go wrong. I was out until dark in just a sweatshirt and I was HOT!! I heard it's supposed to be 57 tomorrow!!

I sure hope the sun lasts another day, but I heard on the radio that it is going to rain. I like your weather forecast better, since I am in the midst of planting trees and shrubs that I have managed to stockpile over the last 4 months. This entails digging tenacious pasture grass out of my heavy clay soil, and trying to shake out what little topsoil is clinging to the roots. The real tough clay is not far below that so I try to keep as much as possible and add compost. This is not as difficult as removing sword fern, however. I do not envy you that task. I have a few sword ferns that have sprung up around my place, usually in a very awkward location, like under the last step off the porch, so it tries to trip you in the Summer time if you are not careful going down the steps,

Holly - I have pasture grass, too. That is tough stuff. And the clay really seems to like to hold on to things; I know what you mean about trying to get it off the grass. I'm not sure that's any easier than getting up ferns!! And I'm so determined to stay ahead of the ranunculus this year - at least in my beds. But I say that every year.

I heard that there was a pretty high chance of rain tomorrow, too. But I've decided that a little rain is okay if it's warm. Guess we'll see. Sprinkles are okay. I don't know about a full fledged downpour.

I do have my waterproof hat ready in case I must muck about in the rain tomorrow. Still 2 trees and 8 shrubs left to plant. Aaaagh. What have I done? I was down to 2 shrubs awaiting a home and then I went out and bought blueberries. I just couldn't resist since the garden center got in some varieties that are not easily available every year and there were a few I have been hoping to find for some time.

But just think how much you're getting done and it's not even spring yet. And the eatin' is going to be good at your house.

I think the blow torch is supposed to make them feel as though they've been in a forest fire so they can try harder to be extra lush. I don't remember where i heard it, but I've done it a few times when I've had the weed burner out. Of course, they always look good anyway. I'm with James. I love them and feel lucky they are so easily grown. They are great presence in the garden, but I do know what you mean about 'too much of a good thing'. I believe my son used our large crowbar to get a really big one out that was just in the way. It was a monster almost 2 feet across. I hated to do it because it was evident that it was an old and very wise fern. But it was really in the worst possible place in the garden and I was able to get several nice sized crowns out of it.

Why are you people talking as though rain were possible??? Don't you know yet that ignoring the weather men is the correct way to approach weather? There is no way for them to predict, it's all smoke and mirrors. We must act as though tomorrow (today, actually) will be sunny, and that that is the normal course of events. Then it will be more likely to happen. With all of this talk of rain, I'll just bet the weather gods are listening to all of you and potting your plight! Keep a good thought!

:-). Okay, I'm headed out to work in the "sun" ^_^.

It worked out okay for me today weatherwise. I was helping my sister move late morning and into the afternoon, and we had a bit of sun while transferring boxes and furniture. This was fortuitous. There were some rain showers on my way home and I thought maybe Pix was right, and I had sealed my fate for digging in the mud by mentioning rain. But hey, it quit coming down, I was out for several hours, until a bit after dark and only got sprinkled on a little bit at intervals. Like Kathy said, it was warm so it was pleasant enough. 2 more trees and 1 shrub planted today, ones that I bought at a sale a year ago and have been suffering along in their pots.

You are all welcome to come and eat blueberries, apples, and whatever else I have coming to the table when the season comes around.

This may sound bazaar, but it works for me. I cut all the fronds off and place a car tire over them. Different sizes for large or small ferns. it keeps the fronds from touching the ground and make it look like they are in a pot. Then I cut the old fronds each year at the tire level, before the new growth starts to come up it.
It keeps them from getting flaten.

But Mary, I'd have to have 150 tires for that!!

LOL Katie

I never thought of that, LOL
But they are free at any tire place.

I have found that the little ones are not so bad to get out with the right combination of tools, but I may have to do that with the big ones. Stay tuned . . .

Now about that rain. I notice that it was fairly sunny at my place on Sunday. Just a sprinkle here and there, but nothing serious and actually a pleasant temperature. I worked unencumbered in the garden all day long and completely revamped my alpine garden in the front without interference from weather. Let's be clear: it's okay to talk about rain as long as we're talking about rain SOMEPLACE ELSE. It's the EXPECTATION of rain that is to be avoided. Weather is sort of like children. When you fully expect the best of them, they live up to your expectations. When you expect them to be hellions, then that's what you get. Fear should be avoided at all cost as a low-vibration emotion that does nothing but attract negative weather gods. The Starbucks barista and I totally agreed about weather this morning. We both agreed that it was the collective fear and loathing and teeth gnashing about the 'fact' that it was going to rain today that caused the rain to solidify and manifest. We have more power than we think! Now go forth and manifest sunshine for us for the weekend!

I for one was happy to have rain today. All my newly planted trees and shrubs were nicely watered with no extra work on my part, and it was much easier to go to work knowing it was simply too wet and muddy for me to be comfortable digging more holes and shaking dirt off grass clumps. I'm all for sunshine on the weekend Yes!!

See? Rain is good when it's during the week! We must manifest rain during the week and sunshine on the weekend.

Now thats not fair. LOL

Except at Tilly's house. She gets sun on her days off. How's that?

Thank you!!!!
I so hate it to see the sun shine the whole time I am at work, then to have my 2 days off and it rains. makes you want to have a hissy dance. So wish I could have a that dream job. Mon - Fri 7 - 3pm.

Tills - it rains on the weekends, too. Usually if i have planned some major project that requires lots of time outdoors. OK, I'll stop planning.

I stopped planing long ago. If the day fits work it, if not find something else to do. LOL
What is, is. Got to make the best of it.
But I want warm, don't care about sun. And no rain. Its just a little request. ^_^
I'm dreaming I know.
Night all
Hugs

Okay, who manifested the snow??

Eeeek. I don't have any. She says, holding her hands over her ears, "lalalalalalalalalalalala. I don't hear anything about snow . . ."

Uh oh: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/olympia/default.aspx?cam=1271

Holding your ears will only make your arms tired. Mine isn't going to stick. I don't know about yours. It's 34 degrees here. How about there?

Good, good, good. Not that cold and no snow. My coworker was out in downtown Seattle today at lunch and said it was verrrry cold. Wasn't so cold when I left.

Visualizing sun. [squinting, actually]

it's not going to warm up here until August 12th.!

Yikes!! Couldn't it be as early as the 10th? ^_^

I didn't have a clue about the predicted snow, had to go look outside, and yep, we have a sprinkling of snow. It is cold out there, and only 43 in the GH (with heat)

I've got 33 just now, but I don't think it's getting any worse than that tonight. Tomorrow night is predicted to be 28 degrees. Still, not too bad for February.

Lynn, is your greenhouse insulated at all? My greenhouse is a balmy 50 degrees.