Re: OT-BIO: Kathie Day-Nski

Kathie Day-Nski wrote:
> 
> Hello!  My name is Kathie Day-Nski. . . 
> 
> 1)  We have a lot of squirrels and chipmonks in our neighborhood.  A
> neighbor has suggested dipping the bulbs in Ro-Pel BulbProtect-R to keep
> them from being eaten up by the critters.  Does anyone have experience with
> this product? Does it work or is there another alternative that would work
> better?
> 
Kathie -- Welcome to Iris-L. I have plenty of squirrels and chipmunks
(although the neighbors' cats have seriously depleted the latters'
numbers), and can assure you that they do no intentional damage to
irises. Save your money.



> 2) We are roto-tilling up a space on the edge of our lawn for my bed.  I've
> bought black landscaping fabric to lay on the bed to prevent weeds.  I then
> plan on planting the bulbs and putting mulch on top of the fabric.  Will
> this work with Iris? (I would have like to have roto-tilled and then used
> round-up or something to kill the grass/weeds but I don't have the time.
> 
A caution -- If the landscaping fabric appears to have a very tight
weave (rather than smooth plastic), it will let grass grow up through
the weave. Turf then begins to form above the fabric. After about 2
years, it will be virtually impossible to get the stuff out of your
garden. I would recommend taking the time, after tilling, to spread
Preen on your iris garden, working it into the soil about 2" deep with a
garden rake. This should prevent weeds and grass for about a year, and
you can control them by hoeing thereafter.

Good luck!

Griff Crump, along the tidal Potomac near Mount Vernon, VA, who just
today finished preparing two new beds in this time-tested (here)
manner.  jgcrump@erols.com
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