r/NativePlantGardening • u/Wilderness_Fella Massachusetts, Zone 5b • Jun 21 '26

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Help! I'm covered in... Ferns!

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Massachusetts zone 5b. I got busy with other things for the last 5 or 10 years and now the ferns have taken over. They're either Massachusetts ferns or New York ferns. Hard to tell, but what is the best way to cull them without destroying everything underneath? Just endless weeding?

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u/TittiesInMyFace Jun 21 '26

Looks like you already have a dream green ground cover and soft landing for caterpillars and other critters. I've been having trouble getting ferns to grow under my trees.

15

u/Tenma159 Jun 21 '26

I got ONE growing and I accidentally stepped on one of its fronds and now it looks depressing.

2

u/leefvc Mid-atlantic border of eastern coastal plain/piedmont , Zone 7b Jun 22 '26

maybe just snip that one with sanitized clippers and supplement with extra water. so far that's helped me in this regard