Re: CULT: Options for growing irises in a new garden.
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT: Options for growing irises in a new garden.
- From: w* s*
- Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 10:06:26 +1000
Hi Again Jan, and all
I must have missed reading this message yesterday, must have been the fog
but its just as bad today, and if not heavier than yesterday's whiteout.
I saw you have listed your new garden's zones and read that you have wet
areas and a soggy septic drain area.As Colleen said, dont go to beserk to
drain that area as it is perfect for your Siberians and most especially for
any JIs that you might aquire.Yes I still have more to share...I have mine
planted in that same spot...
I also have a few pine/cypress trees around my small garden, put there to
form a wind break that wasnt too successful, and as we have hacked at them
quite savagely, they do have areas that let light in and thats where I grow
quite a few Pacific Coast irises. I do find however that I have to water
that area a little more in summer due to the root mat that the trees have
but it seems to work well as everything is happy.
You are going to have a ball planning, digging, and creating your new
garden.Pity you werent closer to me as I would be most happy to donate loads
of horse or cow manure :)
Must fly, its a busy day, lots of heifers (2yolds) have decided to calve
today, hope we get some nice heifer calves..Waving Bye from Wendy Sargeant,
in Victoria Australia, Zone 8ish.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Clark" <janclarx@hotmail.com>
To: <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 4:46 AM
Subject: [iris-talk] CULT: Options for growing irises in a new garden.
> 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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