Re: Companion Planting

Hi Janet:
        Welcome to Iris-talk. May I suggest you read the Rules and
Regulations that accompany registering with Iris-talk. There's a lot
about "tags," plus an abundance of other very worth while information.
It's also helpful to list your USDA zone and even the Sunset zone along
with your signature.
        Regarding your questions about companion plants and iris. I can't
help you there except to say that there are a great many plants that grow
well with iris. As to their being actual "companion plants" in the sense
as defined in literature such as "Carrots love Tomatoes". . . .I doubt
it. My experience is that most iris need little help other than an
occasional feeding and being kept reasonably weed free. 
        As far as hating to use pesticides/herbicides. . I have been
gardening 98% organic for about 35 years and in the beginning I was
absolutely adamant about their usage. But as I grew older and wiser I
realized that if used with discretion and common sense, they had their
place.
        Nut grass and Bermuda grass caused me to arrive at the above
conclusion. I tried EVERY method possible, every method listed in my
library of Organic gardening practices and I can honestly tell you, they
just don't work. Roundup works! I don't use it around vegetables but it
definitely has its place in my iris beds for the control of St. Augustine
grass and Bermuda grass, both of which I have here in El Paso, TX. You
will NEVER dig out either of these grasses. Leave one tiny node and
you're back in business again.
        As far as pesticide. . .I'm opposed to most but there are some
safe products on the market. In a garden area as small as yours, you can
do a lot of hand picking. Water mixed with soap and some oil works for a
lot of things.. .ants. . I have a recipe that works wonders for little
sugar (house) ants but is less effective for the ants in my yard.
        I think what I'm trying to say is that it's really difficult to
be a purist when it comes to most anything and bending a bit to use a
pesticide to rid your yard of ants isn't all that serious and to use
Roundup once or twice to get invasive grasses under control isn't either.
        Personally, while I love gardening, digging up nut, quack, St.
Augustine and Bermuda grasses is NOT my idea of pleasurable gardening!
        As far as using a hoe. . .they are great for general weeding and
annuals. . .and are the greatest friend of Bermuda grass! Using a hoe on
that stuff just makes it grow better!!

Doris Elevier
USDA zone 7b, Sunset zone 11
El Paso, TX

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