I have a Tazmanian Tree Fern. I had heard that I may need to wrap it for the winter. My question is - is this necessary and suggestions for wrapping it? Thanks for any assistance. James
The garden staff at VanDusen Botanical Garden have extensive experience overwintering Dicksonia antarctica (Tasmanian tree fern). The procedure involves cutting back the fronds and surrounding the stem with a wire-mesh cage, filled with leaves. The cage is tall enough to overtop the crown, which is similarly protected/insulated. The whole cage is then draped and wrapped with a polyethylene sheet to exclude moisture. The area at VanDusen that houses the tree ferns is very sheltered (lots of tall, established conifers) and the ground heavily mulched. I would recommend speaking with the gardener in charge of this area (the Fern Dell in the Sino-Himalayan Garden) (604 257 8627).
