Re: CULT:TB: Iris Mulch
- To: <iris-talk@onelist.com>
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT:TB: Iris Mulch
- From: B* A* F*
- Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 09:10:19 -0400
From: "BARBARA A FOWLER" <sheep@digital.net>
Upon reading all the e-mail this morning, I am gathering information in
starting irises in our garden here in Avon Park, Florida. So if I ask dumb
questions, please see me as a beginner iris grower and certainly
gardener...We have been trying to garden flower plots on our 5 acres in the
country. The iris plants were one of my grandmother's favorites....
Now, for the question, are cocoa hulls used as a mulch available this far
south? And how expensive would they be, etc.? Would they be good for this
sandy soil in this area? Alot of questions, but I do want to learn more. If
I don't use the cocoa hulls for iris now, I probably would want to use them
to enrich the soil here.
Thanks so much.
----------
> From: Irisborer@aol.com
> To: iris-talk@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT:TB: Iris Mulch
> Date: Saturday, June 19, 1999 5:50 AM
>
> From: Irisborer@aol.com
>
> The question was raised regarding cocoa hulls as a mulch for iris. And
it
> was reported that cocoa hulls can "felt" and were not desirable.
>
> So here's the other side of the story.
>
> I've been using cocoa hulls in my garden for about 7 years now.... I love
the
> color, love the smell, and love what they do for the soil. The Stately
Guest
> Estates are perched on a large glob of clay...... I'm convinced you
could
> throw a pot in my garden in the spring.... and you need a pick to get
into
> the soil in July when it's dried out.
>
> Anyway....
>
> This is what I've learned about cocoa hulls...... you don't want to just
lay
> them on top of the ground - they will mat and they will mold .... and
> although the situation is temporary, it's not why you have a mulch.
>
> I find that by incorporating the hulls in the top 3 inches or so of my
garden
> (using a claw or my Mantis if there's room), the hulls will lighten up
that
> clay better than anything else I've used. Then I sprinkle a light
dusting
> over the top of the ground for appearances... and water it down. No
mold, no
> problem.
>
> Now... it should be said that this is a useless mulch for water retention
> .... and for weed control. But for being a soil amendment and making it
look
> like you have this Hershey's chocolate-colored soil.... it rules!
>
> I DID mulch one bed of TB's this year..... just to see what would happen.
I
> have also been taught 1) never mulch bearded irises and 2) never use
manure
> on bearded irises
>
> Well, the TB's I mulched with the cocoa hulls did fine. Not that it
> transformed me into a GOOD iris grower, you understand.... but it did
seem to
> keep the rot problem at bay in that bed.
>
> And while I was in England, I visited the iris trial gardens at Wisley
where
> they prepared each iris bed with 6 inches of manure.... I asked about the
> advisability of this practice. My answer was something like "rubbish",
the
> irises need the boost. BUT, it should be noted that they have grown
irises
> in the same beds for many, many years, so the soil may be considerably
> depleted to begin with... .and there was a fair amount of leafspot as
well.
>
> So..... today my stepdaughter gets married and I'm trying to think about
> anything BUT. What other topics can we divert my attention with????
Anyone
> got any JI's in bloom???? Anyone going to the JI convention in
Portland???
> Anyone know any good jokes?? Recipes?? Amazing facts??
>
> Kathyguest in East Aurora, NY where it's going to be a beeeeeeutiful day!
>
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