Re: Re: CULT: gravel mulch

Pea gravel is as the name implies about the size of a
large pea. Inch size gravel is much bigger but may
work, I can't say from lack of experience. My favorite
gravel is traction sand, iy is even smaller. The
grains are rough and it works beautifully for a
topdressing on pots and in troughs. I have used it in
larger beds also but usually with miniature plants.
The pea gravel seems to me a nice size for SDBs and
up. Tall bearded might still look good with inch size
pebbles but I have never tried it. 

The purpose for the mulch was partly to hold in
moisture during our summer droughts. Beds with pea
gravel showed Iris with fresh leaves while beds
without showed much more browning of tips. I can
remember when I first applied the gravel, it was
midsummer, dry, and i had not watered. The Iris perked
up within a weak and looked happier. The thicknes of
the gravel varied since the Iris clumps were just a
little higher that the ground between so at the edge
of the rhizome the gravel might have been only one
layer or about a quarter to a half inch thick but
between clumps it might have been an inch or two
thick.

Weed seeds would germinate in the deeper gravel but it
was fairly easy to stir it up a bit and deslodge them.
I am not fond of digging my Iris every year. I try to
disturb them as little as possible for at leats 2-3
years since I grow them as landscape features and for
garden beauty. The beds I used this on where SDBs
primarily. My Tall-beardeds in the garden, are grown
with other larger perennials and the companion plants,
Peonies, columbine, painted daisys, etc do not allow a
lot of room for weeds. Where I grow Tall-bearded as a
row crop I don;t bother with mulch. I don't call that
my garden but I still use the word collection, or
cutting garden, or hybridizing bed, but those are
treated with less respect since they are just corn
rows.  
--- Linda Mann <lmann@lock-net.com> wrote:

> I am always interested in hearing new ways of doing
> things, and the 
> irises that survived the freeze and drought look
> better this year than 
> most.  I don't understand how they manage to keep
> looking so good with 
> so little water. Some have foliage that is bleached,
> but most look ok.
> 
> The companions (weeds) are another story!  They look
> terrible.
> 
> How thick do you spread it?  "Gravel" here mostly
> ranges from an inch or 
> so up to 3 or 4 inches, & in parts of the 'gravel
> rows' can make up a 
> third or more of the soil.  I've mostly carted off
> the bigger rocks, at 
> least in the top foot of soil.
> 
> Gravel here is mostly angular, so doesn't roll
> around, but isn't very 
> attractive (chert).
> 
> <I am
> always reluctant to give advice on culture I believe
> everyone has to learn their own microclimates and
> conditions.>
> -- 
> Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
> East Tennessee Iris Society
> <http://www.DiscoverET.org/etis>
> American Iris Society web site
> <http://www.irises.org>
> talk archives:
> <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
> photos archives:
> <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>
> online R&I <http://www.irisregister.com>
> 
>
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