Re: RECult-Cold Climate planting

We do the same Chuck.  Iris are planted with 1 to 2 inches of soil over the
top (sometimes deeper).  more of a product of our planting machine but it
helps protect the rhizome from sun burn in the summer and freeze damage in
the winter, not that we have too much freezing going on.  we have very
little if any rot in in our gardens.  also have very well drained sandy
soil.
Mike

----- Original Message ----- 

> I know it goes agaist all advice generally given to plant with soil over
rhizomes, but it works. Most recomendations are for the backs of the
rhizomes to be exposed. I place them with 1/2 -1" ( sometimes deeper) soil
over  the backs  of the rhizomes.  With unreliable snow cover and many
freezes in fall and spring as well as frequent winter thaws, heaving is a
major problem. This eliminates much of that. I get excellent survival with
deeper planting. When Keith Keppel was up here a few years ago I mentioned
this way of planting to him. He indicated that he has been planting like
this for longer then he can remember and it works well for him. We both have
well draines soil, allthoug there are a lot of very wet areas on my farm.
Other people  have also secretly confessed to this "iris crime " as I have
come out of the closet on this, all with better results this way. I suspect
one of the problems with rot is not the mosture per se  but the microscopic
lesions cause by freeze/th!

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