Re: Sedum groundcover/mulch around irises

Dana writes

:I'm aware of the advice not to mulch irises and remove all debris, but would
:this admonition also apply to the sedum ground cover that grows over my iris
:bed?  Should I remove it?
:
:I have other iris patches in a bed with other flowers which I do mulch.  How
:far away should I keep the mulch from the iris?

I think the sedum should not be much of a problem. I grow some between
my irises (though not right up to the base of the plants. The main reason
that much is not recommended for irises is that it can create a dark, damp
place with little air circulation, which can cause the irises to rot.
Sedums (many at least) are rather airy in growth habit and don't mind
dry soil. So it's not nearly as risky as, say, two inches of wood chips!

As for the irises in the flower beds, I'd play it by ear. If the irises
aren't super precious, leave some mulch around them and see how they do.
Depending on your climate, it might not even cause you problems.

I'm interested in others' experiences with irises in mixed flower beds.
Most of the iris literature is written assuming that the bed will contain
only irises. I've been mixing mine with other plants quite successfully,
particularly with small plants that don't mind a little dryness. I think
the main worry would be with big, floppy perennials that sprawl all around
the irises and make a stagnant, damp, air space around the rhizomes.

Anyone have anything else to report on this subject?


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Tom Tadfor Little         tlittle@lanl.gov  -or-  telp@Rt66.com
technical writer/editor   Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Telperion Productions     http://www.rt66.com/~telp/
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