Re: CULT:clover and irises

Thanks for the comments Bill.  In my original post I mentioned that henbit and
clover were in two different beds in two different gardens.  The iris in both
gardens that had these weeds in them were doing well and still are.  It isn't
just the clover.  As far as the soil, both gardens are similar and all beds in
each garden are prepared and taken care of in similar ways.  Both gardens have
suffered winter losses but not in the weed infested beds.  We understand the
weeds will act as a mulch protecting the iris from the freeze-thaw cycles of
early spring.  I guess the question is why are these irises doing so well when
the culture goes against everything we have been taught as being best for the
iris?

Here is another question directed at you Bill, since you are our resident
Biologist, what other plants does the "iris borer" infest?  We can't remember
digging up an iris clump in an area of dense weeds/grasses that had been in
that location for years that had a borer infestation.  Why not?  Do the weeds
and grasses protect the iris in some way from the borer?  Or is it that I have
just never found an old neglected clump of iris with an infestation?

Glenn

Bill Shear wrote:

> Clover could enhance growth in irises if the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing
> bacteria in its roots also released nitrate into the soil for pick-up by
> nearby plants...but then there is also the factor of competition; the fast
> growing clover might eventually swamp the slower growing irises.
>
> Maybe the effect isn't due to the clover at all but to good growing
> conditions for both kinds of plants?
>
> Bill Shear
> Department of Biology
> Hampden-Sydney College
> Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
> (804)223-6172
> FAX (804)223-6374
> email<bills@hsc.edu>
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