Epidsode 1

I know loads of gardeners who seem to be totally convinced that tree ferns can’t be reliably grown in Britain. Yet every time I see a specimen that looks unhappy it’s always down, not to lack of warmth, but lack of water.

If your tree fern is only putting on only a few short fronds every spring, and its trunk is getting ever narrower, all you need to do is ensure it has sufficient irrigation for the brief window in which it’s leaves are unfurling.

This means getting out there with the hose and giving it a really good soak, two or three times a week between late April and early May. As this ‘rainy season’ is only for a few short weeks, they actually use far less water than many more traditional garden plants like roses, bedding plants or lawns.