Re: New Iris Bed
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: Re: New Iris Bed
- From: t*@Lanl.GOV (Tom Tadfor Little)
- Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 08:58:15 -0600
Patty asks
:I will be tilling a new iris bed for TBs that I will be receiving in July.
:Since I am new to the iris, I would like to know if tilling in WELL
:composted horse manure from our local barn would be beneficial or will it be
:too rich? I will also be adding well screened compost.
There is some concern about organic matter promoting rot, especially if
it is used in a high concentration, near the surface. Here in New Mexico,
the soil really needs the organic matter to break it up, and our humidity
is low, so I always apply well-composted manure or other compost when
preparing a new bed. My advice is YES, do it, but make sure the stuff is
OLD and work it in deeply. Since irises tend to like soil that's a bit
dry near the surface, the organic matter is not as crucial for them as
for many garden plants.
Happy irising, Tom.
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Tom Tadfor Little tlittle@lanl.gov -or- telp@Rt66.com
technical writer/editor Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Telperion Productions http://www.rt66.com/~telp/
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