Re: RECult-Cold Climate planting

I put hardwood mulch down last winter. I mulched everything, including on
top of my rhizomes. I did it late- either the weekend before or the weekend
just after Thanksgiving.

The year before, winter of 2002/2003, we had our first decent (more than an
inch or so) snowfall at the beginning of December, and my garden had almost
constant snow cover until March. Then the spring was cool and wet, wet, wet!
I had really nice bloom that year, despite the cold and rain, and almost no
leaf spot. Nothing heaved or thawed and I thought the snow cover must have
kept them insulated and the ground at an even temp.

A nearly-constant snow cover isn't normal for my area, so I wanted to see if
a layer of mulch would have the same effect. Again this past spring, all but
maybe two rhizomes that were weak to begin with (and had been moved) and one
more that rotted (but now has baby increases from the part I was able to
save) sent up stalks.

I'll probably do it again this coming winter.

Cheryl Leigh
Philly 'burbs, zone 6, watching where the storms are going
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RYFigge@aol.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>; <irischapman@netscape.net>
Sent: Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: [iris] RECult-Cold Climate planting


> Thanks, Chuck for that very thoughtful explanation.  It reallhy makes
sense
> if you think about it.  A few times Sterling (Innerst) and Joan (Roberts)
have
> planted for me in the years gone by, and I noticed they planted deeper
than I
> did -- and the irises survived very well.   It reminds me of the time a
> daughter lived in  Rhode Island (benefit of husband;s Navy)  and she
MULCHED! !   I
> tried it and the gurus here were horrified!  But now nearly everyone
mulches
> at least  in the paths between the irises and it  does help with weeding.
> Rosalie nr Baltimore,USA  zone 7 with a rainy past and forecasted deluge
with
> possible horricane, woe is me!  ryfigge@aol.com

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