I have several Korean and Alaskan Forest ferns which are 3 years old. I didn't cut them back last year and am wondering if they need to be, or would benefit from being, cut back early thsi spring? Thanks
Polystichum spp. are evergreen and do not need to be cut back. You probably have P. tsu-simense and a cut-leaved P. setiferum cultivar (sold locally as Alaskan fern, for some reason). Gardeners here do often cut back native P. munitum planted in less suitable positions where the fronds are damaged by winter conditions and look shabby by the end of the season. The plants do not require this and would probably actually prefer that it was not done, the old fronds protecting the delicate new ones as well as eventually contributing the the organic litter layer around the crowns.
