CULT: Sanitation and Leaf Cleanup
- To: i*@egroups.com
- Subject: CULT: Sanitation and Leaf Cleanup
- From: C*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 09:06:33 EDT
In a message dated 4/17/00 11:14:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
domingoman@aol.com writes:
<< I have debated the practice of stripping irises of old leaf stalks vs
leaving them on during the growing season here in southern california. I have
found that my iris beds do better when they are kept clean of old leaf
stalks. The snail and earwig populations seem to be lower when the beds are
clean.>>
It is not immediately clear what you mean by "old leaf stalks" but the usual
recommendation is that old bloom stalks be removed after flowering and all
dead or diseased foliage be trimmed off or removed as it accumulates. Snails,
earwigs and disease are indeed associated with litter in the iris bed, and
poor garden hygiene
can contribute to pest and disease problems.
If you are talking about removing all foliage after bloom the received wisdom
is that there is no reason ever to remove healthy green foliage from the iris
except when they are being reset, in which case one shortens it to diminish
surface area and thus dehydration. The leaves of the iris feed the rhizome
which makes the bloom and thus good healthy foliage is to be encouraged.
There are, of course, those who routinely whack their leaves way back after
bloom and I hear some irises will tolerate that, at least for a while, but it
is not the soundest course of action.
You are correct about them doing better when the beds are clean. Good garden
hygiene is the best thing you can do for your irises.
Anner, in Virginia, USDA Z7
ChateauWhitehall@aol.com
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