Re: OT-BIO: Kathie Day-Nski

At 07:29 PM 8/6/97 -0600, you wrote:
>Hello!  My name is Kathie Day-Nski.  I'm originally from Bonita, Ca, a
>suburb of San Diego.  My husband and I moved to southeastern Wisconsin
>several years ago. I've had a big adjustment in learning what I can grow
>here in this zone. I've always been a vegetable gardner and more recently,
>flowers.  When I was growing up, my dad always had beautiful Irises that a
>neighbor had given him over the years. Iris have always been one of my
>favorites and I now have enough room to start growing them myself. I feel
>that it's part of my "heritage" to grow them since they have always been
> won't
>mind me asking..... And of course, I'm sure I'll have more as I go.  
>
>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?  
>
>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. 
>My dad divided the bulbs about a week ago and I should get them in this
>week, right?)
>
>3)  I've also bought some bone meal and was going to plant a small amount
>with each bulb. Is this right? 
>
>I'd appreciate any advice, site suggestions, reference books, etc to help
>me get started on this.  Thanks for taking the time to read this!  Kathie
>
>Kathie Day-Nski
>kday2@bbw.tds.net

Kathie:

This is a partial response.  I am sure others on this friendly and generous
list will come forward in more detail.

First, I would not mulch tall bearded iris beds.  It can lead to root rot.
Many iris growers use PREEN, which is a pre-emergent weed killer, meaning
that it prevents weed seeds from germinating.  It won't stop crab grass or
weeds already growing.  These need muscle from grower on hands and knees.  

Second, you don't have to plant this week.  You have more time than that.

Third, a lot of us toss a handfull of alfalfa pellets (as in horse food)
into the planting site, mixing it into the soil.

Fourth,  and most important, get in touch with the American Iris Society.
The president of the Wisconsin Iris Society is Jerome A. Bengston, 2908 Old
Mill Dr., Racine, 53405.  He can put you in touch with iris growers in your
part of the state, who can give you direct advice, and also tell you how to
join the society, attend meetings with people who grow iris in your climate,
get technical publications, etc. 

Good luck and fun.






F 















Edmund L. Castillo in Loudoun Co., VA
castillo@pipeline.com
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