Hi, Can anyone give advice on how to plant ferns? I want to plant them in a woodland type area in dryish shade. Do They like well rotted manure or compost in the hole before I plant or do they prefer less nutriments ? Look forward to some help.

They seem quite happy with fairly poor soil. We plant ours in the shade of an large apple tree and a berberis, in deepish holes with a bit of well-rotted compost [not manure] at the bottom, a little fish/blood/bone, lots of water, and then keep them well watered for the first six months. All have flourished.

Well there are lots of different kinds of ferns and they have diverse requirements. Some are happy in dry shade; some of them need lots of water; some like it well drained, others tolerate it boggy. Some are very unfussy about soil and nutrients, others have specific requirements.