Re: German Batik Iris

Debbie, I live in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and my soil is solid clay. When I dig, it comes up in big solid lumps. I amend with peat, leaf compost, and sometimes sand. I don't have a tiller - just spread it and then dig it in with a shovel, first in one direction, then perpendicular, then once more on a diagonal. The iris are very happy in that, as long as I plant them where there is good drainage - on a slope (it only needs to be a slight one) or by creating a low mound. Another option is to build a raised bed for your iris. Then you could fill it with your clay soil mixed with potting soil, or try the clay / peat / compost / sand combination. 
kris

Debra Winchell wrote:
I live near Albany, New York in Albany County. The original soil I don't think would work. It had so much clay in it I think you could make a pot directly out of it. It's very common in this area to have pools of water sitting around days after it rains. When I mixed in the other elements, most of it didn't break up but made balls of clay instead. 
I know what you mean about the soil, though.  I wouldn't have thought that our soil back home was good for iris, but I guess so. Unfortunately my parents sold the house a long time ago.  I'll have to put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with.

Thanks very much.

Debbie


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