Dividing ferns is a great way to propagate your plants, share them with friends, or expand your garden. With careful handling and proper care, you can easily divide your ferns in these 13 simple steps.

1. Choose the right time: The best time to divide ferns is during their dormant period, which usually falls between late autumn and early spring.

2. Prepare your tools: You will need a sharp knife or pruning shears, a spade or garden fork, and a pot or tray filled with a suitable potting mix.

3. Water the fern well: A day before dividing your ferns, water the plant thoroughly so that the roots are moist but not wet when you proceed with division.

4. Remove the fern from its container or ground: If your fern is growing in a pot, carefully remove it from the container. If it’s planted in the ground, gently dig around the plant’s root ball with a spade or garden fork.

5. Examine the root ball: Look for natural divisions between mature fronds and younger growths – these divisions will help guide you during separation.

6. Prune old fronds: Trim off any dead or dying fronds near the base of their stems using a sharp knife or pruning shears.

7. Separate the roots: Gently pull apart sections of entwined roots using your hands – avoid breaking too many roots in the process.

8. Make the cut(s): Using your sharp knife or pruning shears, make clean cuts to separate portions of root ball into individual plants, ensuring that each has at least one healthy frond attached.

9. Inspect divided sections: Ensure that each section has sufficient roots remaining for successful growth before proceeding.

10. Prepare new pots or planting area: Fill pots with potting mix suitable for ferns (a mixtures containing peat, perlite, and vermiculite works well) or prepare a planting hole in your desired location.

11. Plant divided ferns: Place each division into the pot or planting hole at the same level it was previously growing and gently firm soil around the roots. Water lightly to help settle the soil.

12. Label your divisions: If you’re dividing more than one type of fern or sharing with friends, label each division for easy identification later on.

13. Watch and wait: Initially, your divided ferns may look a bit distressed, but be patient and continue to provide regular watering and proper care. In time, they will reestablish themselves and flourish.

By following these 13 steps, you can effectively propagate your ferns for increased beauty and variety in your garden. Enjoy watching your healthy ferns grow and thrive!