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Old 26-09-2003, 02:02 PM
Niall Smyth
 
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Default dicksonia squarrosa

Hi all

I have a 50yr old disksonia (only had it a year though)
Its four foot high and gives about six fronds

Anyway last season the fronds died in the frost
and then came back this year

No protection needed for mine

The gardener who supplied it said
it will survive very cold extemes
as that is what it gets in its native country

HTH

Niall



"DaveDay34" wrote in message
...
my dicksonia is one year old and about a foot high, would it be best to
protect with straw and string or to lift and bring inside for the

winter,if
so, how do i care for it during this time,(watering feeding) and what

medium
is best used when it is not in the ground. it is currently doing very

well
in a part sheltered location with approx two foot long fronds many

thanks
in advance, tony


Personally I'd leave it where it is, otherwise you'll disturb any roots if

it's
starting to put any down, which it will eventually.

For frost protection, take two lengths of chicken wire (or similar) and
sandwich several inches of straw in between them. Roll/wrap them round

the
fern and wire together, then stuff handfulls of straw down the crown of

the
fern and in the top of the roll made by the wire and straw 'sandwich'.

All
this should be done after the fronds have died back.

Having said all that, I've seen them left totally unprotected and they

seem to
do just fine. I guess it's all down to the micro-climate where the fern

is
positioned. Some people just cut off the fronds after they die back and

stuff
them in the crown to give a little protection until spring.

I guess you pays your money and takes your choice, as they say, but if

you're
somewhere really cold in winter, I'd play safe. All the best.

Dave.



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