Overwintering A Tree Fern

[jamesnan]

I usually wrap my tree fern in bubble wrap and some straw to over winter it, and this works, but never know whether or not to cut the leaves or leave them. I have tried both ways, cutting them all led to the plant looking a bit puny the next year, and when I left them some of the leaves had started to go brown, and died anyway.
What is the professional way of dealing with the tree fern so that it emerges looking good next spring?

[Chipchopper]

I think the most important thing to do, is to protect the newly forming fronds from winter frost and in particular early spring frosts.
A bunch a dead fronds, rolled up into a ball and placed in the hollow of the top of the trunk offers good frost protection and gives plenty of air spaces, if it's not balled up too tight.
Plastic sheeting should be avoided, because of condensation forming and lack of air movement which can cause rots to set in.
Your bubble wrap is probably leaving air spaces, but you could also use straw and wire or perhaps a horticultural fleece.
Don't be in too much of a hurry to uncover it in the spring and keep an eye out for late frosts.
Keep the stem moist, as that's where most of the roots are.

[jamesnan]

I have done most of what you say, and used fleece, but still not sure if it is best to just tuck the leaves in and hope for the best, or cut them off. Not had any problems with rotting.

[Chipchopper]

It's highly likely they will turn brown, with the onset of winter, therefore I can see no harm in cutting them off, as they start to turn.
On one occasion I used some bracken leaves from the local woods, it did a good job in frost protection and also looked natural to-boot!

[jamesnan]

Thank you so much for your answer