This is my first winter for my tree fern. I packed the top with straw to protect from frost but I was wondering, will this restrict new growth and should I replace with fleece instead.
It sounds like what you've done should be fine, bradste, I would think that so long as you have not packed the straw in tightly, but kept it "fluffy", it shouldn't impede new growth. Welcome to the Stew, by the way.
It won't be growing now anyhow. Once the days start to warm up and the risk of frost is hopefully over, whip the straw out and it should be fine. one of the gardens I work in here in Essex has a mini plantation of tree ferns and they don't provide any protection and they are now into their second winter and doing just fine.
