Ferns can add beauty to your garden providing they don’t grow out of control. If you’re not careful, ferns can take over your garden and crowd out other plants.
There are several ways to get rid of ferns in a garden. You can pull them up by hand, use herbicides to kill them, or dig them up and transplant them somewhere else.
In this blog, we discuss the merits of each of these methods in order to get rid of ferns within your garden.
The problem of ferns taking over gardens
Ferns are a type of plant that reproduces by releasing spores. These tiny spores can travel vast distances, and they often arrive in garden beds in the wind. Once they land on suitable soil, they germinate and quickly grow into ferns.
While ferns are generally considered to be desirable plants, they can become a problem in gardens if they are not kept in check. Ferns reproduce rapidly and can quickly take over a garden bed, crowding out other plants.
They are also difficult to remove once they become established, as their tiny spores can easily re-infest an area. For these reasons, it is important to carefully monitor fern growth in gardens and take steps to control them if necessary. Otherwise, ferns may soon take over your garden entirely.
Most popular effective methods
Like many plant species, ferns can make themselves very unwelcome guests in your garden. If you’re finding too many ferns in your garden, here are a few ways to get rid of them.
- Herbicides
One way to get rid of ferns is to use herbicides. This can be an effective method, but it is also potentially harmful to other plants in your garden. Be sure to read the labels carefully and follow the directions exactly to avoid any damage.
2. Pulling Them Out By Hand
If you have a small number of ferns, you may be able to pull them out by hand. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is generally safe for other plants.
3. Mulching Mower
Another option is to use a mulching mower. This will chop up the ferns and help to prevent them from spreading.
Whatever method you choose, be sure to be consistent in your efforts to keep the fern population under control. A little bit of work now can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Below we explore each option and discuss them in more depth.
Each has its own set of pros and cons, so you’ll need to decide which is the best fit for your needs. Let’s take a look at each option.
Method One: The best herbicides for killing ferns
If you’re looking for an herbicide that will effectively kill ferns, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, ferns are a type of plant that is very sensitive to chemicals, so you’ll want to be sure to choose an herbicide that is specifically designed for use on ferns.
Second, ferns have a very deep root system, so the herbicide you choose should be able to penetrate the soil and reach the roots.
Finally, ferns have a tendency to re-sprout after being cut, so you’ll want to choose an herbicide that will prevent this from happening.
A few of the best herbicides for killing ferns include:
- Weedkil Fast-acting Weed Killer
- Gallup Home & Garden Glyphosate Weed Killer
- Rootblast Super Concentrated Weed Killer
✔️ FAST-ACTING WEED KILLER
✔️ ECO-FRIENDLY, NATURAL, ORGANIC WEED KILLER
✔️ EFFECTIVE ALL YEAR ROUND
✔️ HOW TO USE
✔️ STRONG WEED KILLER
✔️ COMPATIBLE WITH PERSONAL SPRAYERS
✔️ KILLS EFFECTIVELY
✔️ KILLS A WIDE RANGE OF WEEDS AND GRASSES
✔️ COVERS LARGE AREAS EFFECTIVELY
✔️ KILLS TO THE ROOT
✔️ FAST-ACTING WEED KILLER
✔️ ECO-FRIENDLY, NATURAL, ORGANIC WEED KILLER
✔️ EFFECTIVE ALL YEAR ROUND
✔️ HOW TO USE
✔️ STRONG WEED KILLER
✔️ COMPATIBLE WITH PERSONAL SPRAYERS
✔️ KILLS EFFECTIVELY
✔️ KILLS A WIDE RANGE OF WEEDS AND GRASSES
✔️ COVERS LARGE AREAS EFFECTIVELY
✔️ KILLS TO THE ROOT
Pros
- Herbicides are relatively cheap compared to other methods
- Easy to use
- Ideal for closely planted crops and plants
- Most of the time only one application is needed
- Can clear large areas easily
- Destroys weeds bearing diseases
Cons
- Some herbicides are non-selective meaning they can also kill your plants
- Some herbicides are non-biodegradable
- Herbicides are poisonous to wildlife and pets
- If not careful herbicides can enter the food chain
Method Two: How to hand pull ferns from a garden
Ferns are a common sight in many gardens, but they can be tough to get rid of once they’ve taken root. The best way to remove ferns is to hand pull them, making sure to get as much of the root system as possible.
This can be a tedious process, but it’s the most effective way to make sure the fern doesn’t come back. Start by loosening the soil around the fern with a garden fork or trowel. Then, grab the fern at its base and pull it up, being careful not to break the roots.
Once you’ve removed the fern, rake up any loose soil and replant any other plants that may have been disturbed in the process. With a little patience, you can easily remove ferns by hand pulling them from your garden.
Method Three: Using a mulching mower to get rid of ferns
If you’re looking for an effective way to get rid of ferns, consider using a mulching mower. A mulching mower is a lawnmower that cuts and grinds up ferns as it goes, leaving them to decompose back into the soil. This is an environmentally friendly way to get rid of ferns, as there are no chemicals involved and the ferns are recycled back into the ecosystem.
Mulching mowers are an effective way to get rid of ferns, and they can also help to improve the health of your lawn by returning nutrients to the soil.
Mulching mowers are also very effective at getting rid of ferns, as they quickly grind up the plants into small pieces. If you have a large fern problem, you may need to use a mulching mower several times to get rid of all of the ferns. But once they’re gone, you won’t have to worry about them coming back!
This method is effective because it prevents the ferns from spreading their spores, and it also provides nutrients for other plants in the area. Additionally, ferns are very sensitive to light, so mowing them down will help to prevent them from growing back.
Consistent efforts to manage and eradicate your ferns from your garden should be undertaken to avoid their overgrowth and spread to other areas. Gardeners should also be cautious about the introduction of new fern species into their gardens, as some ferns can become invasive.
Hopefully controlling the growth of ferns in your garden becomes easier with any one of these methods to regain control of your garden.
- 380mm cutting width: Ideal for small to medium-sized lawns
- Lightweight and durable rust-free chassis: Weighs just 12.5kg
- Rear roller: Get that traditional British striped lawn
- Eco-friendly mulching feature: Returns extra-fine grass cuttings to the lawn for a greener, healthier lawn
- 5 adjustable cutting heights: Get the perfect finish on your lawn
- 330mm cutting width: Ideal for small to medium-sized lawns
- Rear roller mower: Get that traditional British striped lawn
- 3 grass cutting heights: Get your desired finish on your lawn
- Weighs just 9kg: Features an ultra-lightweight and durable chassis
- Eco-friendly mulching option: Drops fine grass clippings for a greener, healthier lawn
- CUTS SMALL SIZED LAWNS UP TO 150m² ON A SINGLE CHARGE - delivering all the power and performance of a petrol driven mower without the mess, noise and environmental impact, the mower has a brushess motor for reliability, low maintenance and a longer life
- NEW GENERATION LITHIUM 24V 2Ah BATTERY AND BRUSHLESS MOTOR – engineered for reliability, lower maintenance and a longer lifespan, powered by an advanced battery that you can use in any Greenworks 24V tool to cut waste, save money and storage space
- 5 CUTTING HEIGHTS AND 2-IN-1 MULCHING OR COLLECTION – a single lever makes it easy to raise the blades from 25mm to 70mm, while the clippings can be collected in the large 30L bag or mulched into fine pieces to add nutrients back into the lawn
- EASY TO MANOEUVRE AND STORE - large 14cm rear wheels make it very easy to move over all kinds of ground, it has a comfortable top handle for easy handling which fold down for to save storage space when not in use
- 3 YEAR GUARANTEE WITH 2 YEAR BATTERY WARRANTY – by Greenworks, a world leader in electric tools and battery technology, with a global reputation for smart design, high performance and outstanding customer service​
Want to know more about fern removal?
Knotweed Removal aims to provide the most up-to-date information, help, and advice for YOU to make informed decisions. If you are unsure or uncertain about how to proceed, please reach out to us and we will gladly come back and advise you as best we can.
Governmental advice can be found here and the UK law covering the removal of Japanese Knotweed as stated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 can be found here.
The best means to contact us is via our email – hello@knotweedremoval.tips
Do not forget we have a library of blogs covering many areas relevant to Japanese Knotweed, our free downloadable How-to Guides, and Product Reviews on the latest methods being employed to eradicate or remove Japanese Knotweed.
Knotweed Removal, UK
