Cut deciduous ferns back to the ground in late winter to early spring, around February to March, just before the new fronds, called croziers, start to unfurl. Evergreen ferns do not need cutting back. Simply tidy away any tired or tatty fronds in spring as the fresh growth appears.
As with grasses, the trick is knowing which type you have. Here is how to tell them apart and what to do.
Deciduous versus evergreen ferns
Deciduous ferns die back to a crown over winter and include Dryopteris (in colder gardens), Athyrium, Matteuccia and Osmunda. Evergreen ferns hold their fronds through winter and include Polystichum, Blechnum, Asplenium and Cyrtomium. Our hardy ferns collection notes the habit of each.
Deciduous ferns: leave, then cut in late winter
Leave the old fronds in place over winter. They look attractive, especially in frost, and they protect the crown from cold. Then in late winter, before the new croziers push up, cut the whole plant back to just above the ground. Timing matters, because once the delicate new fronds start to unfurl they are very easy to damage.
Evergreen ferns: tidy, do not cut hard
Evergreen ferns keep working through winter, so do not cut them to the ground. In spring, simply snip out any fronds that have gone brown, flattened or ragged over winter. The plant then refreshes with a flush of new growth around the retained foliage.
A note on tree ferns
Tree ferns such as Dicksonia are treated differently again. Never cut into the crown, and protect it over winter rather than pruning. See our other guides for exotic winter care.
Ferns are the backbone of a shady planting. Combine them with hostas for contrast, browse the full range of hardy ferns for texture, and see our companion guides on when to cut back hostas and ornamental grasses. They are ideal plants for shade and woodland.