Re: Re: CULT: TB winter hardy?
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] Re: CULT: TB winter hardy?
- From: B*
- Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 20:36:07 -0400
Ellen,
Here in zone6/7, Rhode Island, I have been mulching my beds with oak leaves
for several years and have had excellent results. The leaves are
particularly "springy" and do not seem to break down too quickly. I usually
put about 6" on the beds as late as possible into the season (that's for all
beds regardless of plants). I find that even after the early, small
precipitation snowfalls of fall, the leaves will "spring" back and fluff up.
This might help the bulbs and rhizomes avoid the heating up as some of the
more compacting covers sometimes do. That's just speculation on my part.
All I know is that it works. I gather my oak leaves each weekend and leave
them at the back of the garden against my fence until I decide it's time to
cover. (By the way, so far I only have TB's) My beds are also not workable
until the end of April or beginning of May, although you are farther north.
I can tell you that no matter what TB's I put in my beds in spring, so far,
the following spring, all bloom and none have been lost to rot or any other
problems. Maybe I've stumbled onto a good thing? Anyway, hope this helps.
Bill Wardwell
Rhode Island
Bwardwelliii@netzero.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Ellen Gallagher <ellengalla@yahoo.com>
To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, July 23, 2001 1:13 PM
Subject: [iris-talk] Re: CULT: TB winter hardy?
>--- In iris-talk@y..., "Janet Stromborg" <twinhill@e...> wrote:
>
>>>>>I'd like some opinions on whether you folks think it's better to
>mulch these new beds in fall and take a chance on rotting the
>rhizomes, or take a chance on them surfacing and freezing. <<<<<
>
>I don't live in a Zone with a January thaw or lack of a snow cover.
>However, I _did_ mulch TBs with pine needles (as RosalieAnne did) one
>winter with no problem. I know now they were unnecessary and I found
>myself on my soggy knees trying to pull the half-frozen needles off
>the rhizomes in April - there was still snow in various parts of the
>garden. The ground is unworkable here until May.
>
>Chris Hollinshead in the Toronto, CA area mentioned putting rocks on
>rhizomes more than once on this list or its predecessor list, iris-l.
>
>The danger zone for freeze-thaw seems to be USDA Zones 4-7. TBs seem
>to be the prime target presumably due to size of rhizomes.
>
>Ellen Gallagher/ NH/
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
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