ELLIE in Guisborough has a beautiful sunny back garden that she has planted up in a cottage garden style, but the front is almost constantly in the shade. She wants to know if this would be suitable for turning into a fern garden. If so, what conditions do they like, and what care do they need?

PLANTS from the fern family have been around since pre-dinosaur times, so are well adapted for survival, which makes them an easy plant to grow, simple to look after and hard to kill off. A sheltered corner in a garden that is planted entirely with ferns can be just as attractive as flowers.

There are more than 10,000 species of known ferns, most are from the tropics but there are many native to colder climes. They thrive in low levels of light, but need humidity and shelter from strong winds.

The ideal soil is a well-drained loam with high organic matter content.

Although ferns like moist conditions, they will not tolerate heavy, waterlogged clays. Mulching with old manure, compost or decaying leaf litter improves growing conditions.

Small gardens or spaces don’t need to miss out as ferns make good candidates for container specimens. To grow them in pots, use a top quality compost mix or improve a standard mix by adding a good dose of peat or peat substitute. You could even try using sieved cow manure if you have the time, the inclination and the ingredients.

There is very little work to do to maintain them. Watering is important, though. A thorough soaking is better than frequent light sprinklings. On hot, windy days, it may be necessary to mist ferns with water spray to humidify the atmosphere. Water less frequently in winter.

Fertilise in little doses, but often, from spring through to early autumn with organic fertilisers such as seaweed extract, fish emulsion or liquid blood and bone. Slow release granules are also convenient to use and are available in blends suitable for ferns.

If you want to move or plant them up, it is usually best to do so in warm weather when the roots are in active growth. Don’t move a fern in winter.

Generally ferns need little or no pruning other than the removal of dead or dying fronds.

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■ Ensure that any plants that are growing in pots, especially evergreens, never go short of water during the summer. A shortage of water now can lead to a case of bud drop next year.

Pots that have dried out should be submerged in water and left to soak for a few hours, even if it rains.

■ Clematis thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, but ensure the roots and base of plants are in the shade to keep them healthy. Blackened shoot tips may indicate clematis wilt.

Cut out affected stems, but leave the main pruning until late winter and early spring.

■ If you have cucumbers growing, make sure to pinch out the tips of side shoots to a couple of leaves beyond any developing fruits. Remember to pick cucumbers regularly, as leaving old fruit delays further flowering.

Brigid presents the BBC Tees Gardening show on Sundays from 1pm to 2pm.

Questions can be answered on the day by emailing brigidpress@bbc.co.uk anytime during the week, or texting 07786-200995 and phoning 01642-225511 during the show.