Conroe. I have about a 18' x 20' area of basically baron ground with roots on top. I have some shade dense Pennington brand Fescue seed mix but I don't have much confidence that it is going to work.
I thought about just putting ferns around the oak tree but if I cover the entire area, we're looking at 360 ft. of ferns. Maybe a compromise so the barren spots are not as noticeable.

Then what type of fern would you recommend?

1. **Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)** - Popular for its lush, feathery fronds, it does well in shaded areas.

2. **Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)** - Known for its delicate appearance, it prefers moist, shady environments.

3. **Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)** - This fern is appreciated for its striking coloration and can tolerate a range of light conditions.

4. **Southern Shield Fern (Thelypteris kunthii)** - A hardy fern that adapts well to different moisture levels and light conditions.

5. **Staghorn Fern (Platycerium spp.)** - Often mounted on wood, these unique ferns do well in humid environments and can be a striking addition to gardens.

Finally, my sister lives on quite a bit of acreage in East Texas, and she said that I'm free to roam the forest area and dig up any fern I want.

TIA

We have a ton of Southern Shield Fern around our house

Pros: It looks good. Is dense, and grows fast. Seems to thrive everywhere.

Cons: It turns brown and dies in the winter, so I have to pull the dead shoots every year. If it was in a remote area I wouldn't bother, but it's up against our house and looks like crap when it's dead. Every spring it grows back with a vengeance, and if I let it, it would take over every bed that I have. It grows up through the middle of shrubs, and spreads every year. I have to spend some time every year pulling it to keep it in its place. The things are also magnets for mosquitoes. They love to lay up under those fern leaves in the hot summer. It's the most mosquito heavy area around the house.

It does look really nice though and it sure is hearty. If you want a fern that wont try to take over your yard, look at Japanese Holly ferns. Not as tall as the shield fern, and tends to mound up instead of spread. They look nice though and they do well in my yard.