The Forestry Forum

I have a 65 acre stand of northern hardwoods which I harvested in 1994, single tree selection and again in 2009 when I took the merchantable ash and a few trees of other species.
Sections have come in to heavy cover of, I believe Hay Scented fern.
Anyone out there done measures to eliminate the fern?
I would take pictures but there is 1-1/2 feet of snow there now.
Thanks Pete

Hello Pete; I have a friend who had the same problem last Spring/Summer.

I sent a note off to him to see what he has done to control them.

When I get a reply, I'll post again.

Pete; I got an e-mail from Cornell Cooperative Extension a little while ago and forwarded it on to you.

Hope this give you something to go on.

I have a lot of the stuff too. It acts invasive the way it takes over. I have noticed if you mow it grass will grow at least on my place. Also black cherry and balsam seem to regenerate in it. Every thing else is really slow.
I have been told herbiside and plant seedlings is the answer. Or be very patient.
This is what mine looks like.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21065/Mow1.JPG)

The most problematic fern we have up here is brachen it will take the full direct sun. It's not only invasive, but it is poison to some trees (allelopathic) like spruces and to humans. The stuff also lives longer than most trees (over 1000 years) because of rhizomes. Some folks react badly to it (hydrogen cyanide) when they damage young fronds, spores are also poisonous (wear a mask) . Myself, no. I never have had a reaction to it and I've worked in acres and acres of it. We'll get lady fern around ephemeral pools, but never does it take over a harvest site that I've noticed. With that being said, brachen also helps fertilize the soil with N-P-K. Sensitive to acid rain.

Invasive here is not because it's not a native fern (it is native), but that it takes over after a harvest on some sites.

Our invasive fern is the Japanese Climbing Fern.  It will climb to the tops of a Pine plantation.