Dear Jim:

Thanks for your question about transplanting ferns. The photo that you attached is from the wonderful Cady's Falls Nursery website, which identified the fern as Polystichum braunii or Braun’s holly fern, one of Vermont's native ferns.   The entry about this fern in the old Cady's Falls catalogue states that the fern needs loamy, rich soil with lime added and time to establish.

With respect to your question about transplanting, it is best to divide ferns right after the first frost in the fall or in very early spring when you notice new growth. You should transplant the ferns to a spot where the soil, drainage and light are similar to the original location. 

We attach a link to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's excellent factsheet about ferns. https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/how_to_grow_ferns. In response to one of the questions about transplanting, the BBG staff answered: "Use a sharp spade to dig out the ferns with as much root ball and soil as possible. Many ferns grow by rhizomes with shallow roots, so you won’t have to dig deep. In either case, try to keep as much soil as possible with the roots. In the spot where you would like the plants to grow, dig for each a hole the depth and width of the root ball or rhizomes. You want the plant in the new spot to be growing at the same soil level the fern was originally. Be sure to fill in soil around the roots so that it is at the same soil depth as it was before you dug the fern up. If weather conditions are dry, water every few days until plants are established."

We also attach a link to another excellent fact sheet from Clemson University. Although Clemson is located in South Carolina, the information about transplanting is applicable to our northern gardens. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hardy-ferns/

We hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your new fern bed!

Pat

Master Gardener Volunteer

UVM Extension|Master Gardener Helpline|<personal data hidden>|Jeffords Hall University of Vermont|Burlington VT

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