Re: CULT: hypertufa
Hello Dennis,
Hypertufa troughs have been popular for some time now. Practically forever
with the alpine bunch. The best book out there on the subject (IMHO) is "Creating
& Planting Garden Troughs" by J. Fingerut & R. Murfitt. Has everything you need to
know including how to construct your own.
Properly constructed, cured and planted, these toughs will last just about
forever, including in your area. We began purchasing them summer before last,
really got into them this summer and fall. hopefully we will get more into place
in a new display garden this coming summer.
There are miniature iris that would look good in a trough. You would need to
keep the special soil mix in mind when using iris in troughs, size of the iris in
relation to the trough and what you choose as companion in the container.
Best to make your own as they can be expensive. You can also shop around on
prices, but I would watch for an experienced craftsperson... poorly constructed
toughs can come apart the first winter. No bargain there. There is a North
American Rock Garden chapter in Cinci area. Good place to begin as I know some of
the members make their own, and a few sell troughs.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Dennis Kramb <dkramb@badbear.com>
Subject: [iris-talk] CULT: hypertufa
> I keep seeing more & more gardening programs on TV featuring
> hypertufa troughs & containers. Has anyone here used them to grow
> irises?
>
> The land at my new house is quite flat, and rather boring, really,
> with no hills or any elevated areas to provide for naturally good
> drainage. I was thinking of somehow using hypertufa bricks or pots
> or something to create raised beds for some of my irises. They look
> neat, but I don't know how expensive it will be, or how durable
> hypertufa would be through our winters.
>
> I would love to get some advice before I start down that road.
> --
> Dennis
