In our area, the time to prepare beds for planting ferns is in the spring since all but the hardiest species die back in our winter temperatures.

Very few ferns are bothered by insect pests, making these plants easy to grow and maintain. These southern wood ferns grow beautifully in almost total shade. In our area, the time to prepare beds ...

Then in fall, the fronds turn a rich bronze. Because it forms clumps and spreads over time, southern wood fern works well as a groundcover, though it may need some taming to keep it in bounds.