Gunnar - acid soil

Dear Gunnar,

Acid soil is a fact of life here in central Arkansas. My well water tests
below 4.5 pH and my soil is comparable. Just about every house in town has
some TB's in their flower beds. They are considered as bullet-proof as
daylilies, and are even more common. Around here, if someone has never
gardened before, you give them daffodils, iris and daylilies.

While we don't have quite the winter cold ;) summers here are hot (100+ F)
and dry. TB's are not having problems with the unamended soil. This last
winter has been unusually extreme here: one week 70+ F then back down below
freezing within 24 hours. One of these cycles even dipped down to 0 F (a
neighbor claims -10 F in his valley). This is most unusual here (USDA zone
7b). Plants broke domancy and then froze when most vulnerable. I lost a
couple of dozen or so TB rizomes (common stuff that I planted last fall) to
mush. Haven't had this happen before.

Grape Hyacinth and daffodils have been blooming for some time. Forsythia and
Leonacera fragrantissima (winter honeysuckle) have finished. Cornus florida
(dogwood), redbud, wild plum and a common white iris (locally called white
german iris) have started to bloom. The TB's are growing well and asiatic
hybrid lilies, daylilies and asters have started spring growth. I have had
growth on my English and Dutch iris for quite a while but no sign of bloom
this spring. I'm afraid one of the freezes may have got them.

Beth Matney (central Arkansas, USA, USDA zone 7b)
bmatney@is.alltel.com
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