Expert tips on making the most of those shady spots in your garden by creating a Stunning Fernery!

Many gardens have areas that receive little sunlight, perhaps a shadowy corner beneath a tree or a narrow passageway leading from the back door. While these spaces may seem like problem areas, they can become thriving, green retreats. With the right plant choices and thoughtful design, even the dampest, gloomiest corner can be transformed into a verdant haven for both people and wildlife.

If there’s one group of plants that truly thrives in the shade, it’s ferns. With hundreds of varieties, each boasting unique and striking foliage, gardeners have an abundance of choices. Here are five standout ferns to consider for your garden:

• Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) – A hardy, evergreen native that tolerates dry soil. Its glossy, leathery fronds are a familiar sight on woodland walks.

• Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum) – With finely divided, evergreen fronds, this fern adds delicate texture and pairs beautifully with bolder foliage like hostas and hart’s tongue fern. Another resilient native, it copes well with occasional dry spells.

• Copper Shield Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) – A showstopper with bright coppery-pink new fronds in spring and summer, adding an unexpected splash of colour to shady areas. Thrives in dry shade.

• Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) – An exquisite, delicate fern with silvery fronds that appear hand-painted, featuring a striking dark green-grey stripe down the centre.

• Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) – This charming native fern, whose name means "many-footed," happily creeps over stone walls and tree forks, making it ideal for filling nooks and crannies. Perfect for adding instant character to a fernery or stumpery.

  
  

Rather than simply planting a bed of ferns, why not take things to the next level by creating a stumpery? This is an especially great option if you’ve recently removed a tree or hedge and are left with unsightly stumps. Instead of seeing them as a problem, turn them into a striking garden feature. Their weathered, gnarled forms provide the perfect natural framework.     

Start with a variety of shade-loving plants such as ferns and foxgloves, choosing a mix of shapes and sizes will add depth and interest to your stumpery. You can also use mosses and lichens to accelerate the ageing process. Along with stumps you can also use driftwood or reclaimed wood for a more natural look.  The key to achieving a natural look is to tuck plants into every nook and cranny. Do not be afraid to divide larger plants and place smaller sections into crevices, allowing them to spread and intertwine naturally over time.

After planting, water everything thoroughly, then apply a mulch of bark chips or shredded woody garden waste. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil health, while also adding a polished, natural finish to the space.  In a short time you will have a green focal point added to your garden.