Gunnera vs tree fern, what would you do?

plants that grow well in a cool, wet tropical style garden

[@estherterrier6400]

Hi Jim, definitely cut the leaf 😊

[@annclarke9865]

I'd definitely be protecting my tree fern that leaf would of been chopped by now

[@terrystokes7047]

Tough one; but yes the Gunnera leaf needs to go; saying that the Gunners is one of my favourite plants in my garden this year.

[@Hilbre78]

Chop off the Gunnera leaf. It's a shame to let it damage the new slow-growing fronds of the tree fern.

[@davegreenthumb]

Cut the gunnera leaf off Jim ,you will be not happy if it snaps all your tree ferns new growth.we all guilty of planting too close.

[@kristiankulev4448]

Hi Jim! To the question - I would try to stake or tie the leaf to the other ones so that it doesn't interfere as much and avoid cutting. Off topic... I have been following every vid of your's for about a year now and I have to say that your garden is very impressive and have inspired me to try and grow palms in my garden as well here in Varna, Bulgaria. Keep up the good work!

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

Thanks for the lovely comments, am I right in thinking that you get hot summers? If that's the case you have lots of options for tropicals. Unlike the uk with it's cool wet summers. Have fun and get stuck in

[@kristiankulev4448]

@@jimspalmsuk5098 Yes, the summer has a lot of sunny days with temps reaching 30c. The winter is very wet though and I lost 1 Phoenix and 1 Trachicarpus this winter, presumably due to poor placement on my part. This year I planted several more palms, but in sunnier spots, that seem to dry out quicker. Will see how it goes. :)

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

@kristiankulev4448 We learn from experiences, good luck 👍

[@peterarmstrong3298]

Gunnera leaf has to go.

[@tonycastro9997]

The tree fern is the more valuable out the two to replace so would move the tree fern not as much root system as gunnera and the gunnera is going to get bigger so save you time in the future

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

I will be reducing the gunnera next spring as I like the treefern where it is. And not to fust about the gunnera 👍

[@Plant_Mad_Paul]

Me personally I would go for the chop Jim prob value the treefern more than the gunnera, but maybe if I owned a gunnera I’d have a different opinion 🤣. Yeah my bananas/canna and risen not got going at all yet , I had the musafolia in the greenhouse all winter and got them into growth early but they only got to about 2ft and now looks to have the canna virus 🦠 so I’m at a dilemma as to do I remove it now before it infects my other cannas or? It’s just going leave a massive space in the bed. Got plenty of extra Indica I’ve grown from seed but they deffo not going to get the hight I ideally want and need.

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

It's certainly been a frustrating start to summer. It can only get better 🙏 🤞

[@albey1816]

Yes cut the Gunnera leaf.

[@alanthecat59]

move the tree fern , easy job

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

I did move it a couple of years ago, but I'm happy where it is 👍

[@TropicalGlos]

Gunnera leaf has to go :(

[@tropicalpdx1341]

Lose the Gunnera altogether, they're so overrated. I grew one, wasn't impressed and tossed it in the bin after three years. A tree fern is a beautiful and architectural plant. How much does a Gunnera cost maybe $10, tree ferns on the other hand, they ain't cheap.

[@jimspalmsuk5098]

Very true, I will be dividing and reducing the gunnera next year. It's got too big and it's certainly not one of my favourite plants .