WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Polystichum setiferum, WUCOLS IV

How often to water soft shield fern in California

In July in the Central Valley, established soft shield fern in loam needs a deep watering about every 3 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 3.0 gallons a week. Soft shield fern, also called hedge fern, is a tufted fern whose soft, finely divided fronds curve outward from the center like a whirlwind when seen from above. It stays evergreen where winters are mild and is semi-evergreen elsewhere. It does best in part to full shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, and too much sun yellows the fronds.

PerennialRated for 2 of 6 zones

How often to water soft shield fern, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for soft shield fern and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil under the fronds that feels dry an inch down tells you to water
  • Fronds yellowing in a sunny spot point to too much light, not just thirst
  • Fronds wilting and browning at the tips in heat point to dry soil
  • A rotting crown in winter points to poor drainage

How to water it

  • Keep the soil evenly moist with regular watering
  • Plant in part to full shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soil
  • Cut old fronds down in late winter before new ones emerge
  • Mulch with leaf mold to keep roots cool
  • Avoid soggy spots, especially in winter

Through the seasons

Water new ferns regularly so the soil never dries out. Established clumps want steady moisture through the dry season and shade from hot sun, with the most water in the hot Central Valley. Old fronds can be cut in late winter just before new ones unfurl. The Central Valley carries a high water rating for soft shield fern. WUCOLS rates it moderate water on the north-central coast. The low desert gets no recommendation, as WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the low desert. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the south coast, South Inland or the high desert.

In pots

Soft shield fern grows well in a wide pot on a shady patio, where its swirling fronds show off. Use a fertile, moisture-holding mix that drains. Give it a slow drink once the surface starts to dry. Through hot spells, look at it daily. Empty the saucer so the crown does not rot. Trim old fronds in late winter. In winter, water when the mix dries between rains.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
4.27gal per sq ft in JulyHigh water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
27.38 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
1.12.13.24.30.64JAN1.04FEB1.74MAR2.43APR3.32MAY3.97JUN4.27JUL3.82AUG2.88SEP1.88OCT0.89NOV0.55DEC1.12.13.24.30.64JFM2.43AMJ4.27JAS1.88OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 4.27 in Jul, 27.38 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Soft Shield Fern: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.64––––
Feb0.531.04––––
Mar0.871.74––––
Apr1.182.43––––
May1.463.32––––
Jun1.613.97––––
Jul1.614.27––––
Aug1.493.82––––
Sep1.242.88––––
Oct0.871.88––––
Nov0.470.89––––
Dec0.310.55––––
Year1227.38––––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated high water in the Central Valley, like soft shield fern. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Japanese Sweet FlagAcorus gramineushigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyRed GingerAlpinia purpuratahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyShell GingerAlpinia zerumbethigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulySiberian BuglossBrunnera macrophyllahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyMarsh MarigoldCaltha palustrishigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyUmbrella Sedge and PapyrusCyperus spp. (CA native and non-native species)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyUmbrella PlantDarmera peltata (Peltiphyllum)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyFoxgloveDigitalis purpurea cvshigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyLeopard PlantFarfugium japonicum cvs. (Ligularia tussilaginea cvs.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyTransvaal DaisyGerbera jamesonii & hybridshigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyGiant GunneraGunnera manicatahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyWhite Ginger LilyHedychium coronariumhigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese IrisIris ensatahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyRushJuncus aquatic spp. (native and non-native spp.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyCardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalis hybrids and cvs. (CA native and non-native spp.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulyBananaMusa spp. (shade in low desert)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than soft shield fern in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyDayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCalla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGarden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCarpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySnowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySwamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyOrange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGreater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes soft shield fern, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How much water does soft shield fern need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established soft shield fern needs about 0.4 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.7 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for soft shield fern change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates soft shield fern separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, high water in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why are my soft shield fern fronds yellow?

Too much sun can yellow the fronds. Move it to part or full shade. Keep the soil moist.

Is soft shield fern evergreen?

It stays evergreen in mild winter regions and is semi-evergreen elsewhere. Cut old fronds in late winter. New fronds follow quickly.

When should I cut back soft shield fern?

Cut down old fronds in late winter, before new fronds emerge. That keeps the clump tidy. Avoid cutting the new crosiers.

Why did my fern rot in winter?

Crown rot can occur in winter if the soil does not drain well. Improve drainage. Water less in cold, wet weather.

Where does soft shield fern grow best?

It grows best in part to full shade with fertile, moist soil. It suits woodland gardens. Shelter it from hot sun.

More plant watering guides

Giant GunneraWhite Ginger LilyClimbing HydrangeaSnowball HydrangeaLacecap HydrangeaJapanese IrisRushBrazilian Plume Flower

Sources