Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is a common sight in the British countryside. Although less common in gardens, it can creep in and its a tough plant to remove.
Bracken is typically fern-like, producing triangular fronds, divided into three, that can reach over 1.5m in height.
Bracken should be treated with caution because it contains carcinogens. If you are chopping back bracken we advise not to do so in late summer when the spores are released, particularly in dry weather.
The fronds do though make a good addition to the compost heap where they will rot down and enhance the nutrient content of your compost. Bracken produces numerous spores, but in our experience these seldom seem to germinate and grow in the compost heap. Our prefered recommended approach to this plant is to wait until autumn when the fronds turn brown and die back to ground level and this dead bracken can be more easily removed and then we suggest compost it separately in the same way as tree leaves are collected and rotted down to make leafmould.
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