CULT: Options for growing irises in a new garden.
- Subject: CULT: Options for growing irises in a new garden.
- From: J* C*
- Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 04:46:10
Firstly - my apologies for sending a letter with no subject this morning. I
am operating from digest, and deleted the heading, but forgot to replace it
with an appropriate one.
I am just back home from paying a visit to my soon to be new garden. The
garden in a little over 3/4 acre (almost 7/8). It has a number of different
microclimates. My first consideration is - how am I going to fit around 600
bearded irises, plus as many seedlings?
I will be buying a rotary hoe and will make some new garden beds almost
immediately. I have never had to do anything on such a grand scale.
The soil is good, but a little stale and compacted. The current owners have
done little, except to plant a few things that need pulling out. They main
efforts include a stone wall - rockery, and lots of unhealthy looking roses
growing straggly up to the eaves of the house.
The roses will go, along with 4 large, overgrown wattle trees, which are
taking up large areas of garden. They will be replaced by deciduous trees -
probably Jap Maples.
The back are, over the septic drainage runs is very wet, and will need
agricultural drainage, and beds for beardeds in that area will need to be
raised.
The whole block presents several microclimates:
1. Dry slope, on the sunny side of the house, some tall gum trees, which
don't cast heavy shade.
2. Wet, slightly sloping, good deep soil.
3. Dry flat areas along sides, deep soil.
4. Dry stone retaining wall, with planting spaces. Good soil, perhaps a
little tired.
5. Dry shade under pine trees.
The plants I wish to grow are Irises - TB, IB, SDB. I am prepared to give up
quite a few TB's but not the little guys.
Daylilies - about 60 cv's
Siberians - have a few, and happy to get more.
Drought tolerant perennials.
Cool climate bulbs (I see daff's everywhere in that area)
Arilbred irises - happy to leave them in large pots.
Pacific Coast irises - I am hoping these will like the dry, shade under the
pine trees.
I need suggestions for each microclimate. I think the soil is neutral to
slightly acidic. The rhododendrons look healthy.
The climate is cold winter, few frosts, snows occassionally. hot dry summer.
I also need suggestions for revitalising compacted soil.
I intend to buy a rotary hoe, manure, and lots of pea or alfalfa straw. We
move there in early Spring.
I think if the wet area is still a problem after putting in aggie drains, I
will run a board walk down the centre, and grow Siberians, day lilies, and
perhaps Spurias.
All ideas appreciated.
Cheers, Jan Clark, in Australia.
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