Re: Clay soil

I hesitate to jump in, but many of you are in areas that have acidic or
neutral soils. In Southern Colorado - and I suspect the same is true of New
Mexico where Ross is - we have _very_ alkaline soil. We have to be
extremely careful about general advice about adding lime, using fireplace
ashes, sawdust, etc. While that may work well in the majority of the
country, it is deadly to our soil.

I agree on the addition of peat moss (or compost if ya got it!) because
that organic material is what will break up the clay soil. I'm wondering if
adding lots of the alfalfa pellets that were written about extensively
earlier in the summer would be a good addition for this new bed. Bill
Shear, you are probably the best qualified to tell us if that addition
would adversely affect the PH level in alkaline soil.

I am enjoying all the varied conversation in iris-l. I am now putting
alfalfa pellets in my irises and cutting up mini-blinds, using Speedball
Painter and using Christmas light posts. You are all marvels!!

Thanks,


P.S. Does anybody know what's going on in my iris bed? Throughout the bed
there are places where it looks like someone splattered thick cream...It's
even on the soaker hose in places!


Nancy Jentzsch
Southern Colorado
Zone 5 - Sunset zone 2
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