Re: CULT:TB: Iris Mulch

From: HIPSource@aol.com

In a message dated 6/20/99 12:18:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
BobGWilson@aol.com writes:

<< There seems to be some concern in the Michigan area regarding herbacides 
like 
 Preen. Two growers side by side in Cedar Springs experimented.  One used 
 Preen, the other not.   >>

There is always concern about use of any chemical, short or longterm. 

The best way to get rid of weeds is always to pull them out before they seed 
all over everything (duh), and keep pulling until the problem is minimal. 
This success of this course presupposes that weed seeds are not coming in on 
the wind or as gifts from birds or whatever. Reliance on this method 
exclusively is not always feasible and many folks will turn to chemicals, if 
only to get an initial handle on the problem so that they can control it 
manually later. It is important that chemicals always be used in accord with 
the lable, that plants themselves be watched closely since we learn new 
things about chemicals all the time. 

I don't use pre-emergents on my iris beds, myself, but many others do. I did 
use Surflan once on my little gravel parking area which had broken out in 
weeds beyond imagining and which I had been fighting for several years. This 
was most gratifying. I now keep these weeds down by traipsing a teakettle of 
boiling water out and pouring it on them. Don't do this in your iris beds. 

There are lots of posts on the subject, as I mentioned, in the Archives. I 
call your attention to those of Rick Tasco who reminded us of the necessity 
of correct timing in the application of these chemicals. Most work on the 
emerging meristem--the point of active growth cells of the roots--and it is 
thought that they can affect the meristem of the iris as well at some phases 
in the growth cycle.

Anner Whitehead
HIPSource@aol.com

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