Re: CULT: burning

I'm curious why you emphasized "<not>" regarding using a propane torch.
 
Reading this post makes me want to get on the ball and purchase a "burning" mechanism, since I have seen borers in my iris in previous years.  I like the idea of using "flame-thrower" type of torches, since they seem no-nonsense to use.  But does anyone out there have any qualms with them?  I mean, besides burning the labels, and possibly destroying part of the iris rhizome, what other problems might I encounter?
 
From Michigan, where I'm just getting back from "lurker" phase . . . missed ya'll!
Adam~
 
 
Adam Cordes 
President
Mio Irisarians
Region 6
Zone 4 (and a half . . . )
<><


Linda Mann <lmann@volfirst.net> wrote:
Experimented a bit with burning irises yesterday. Not enough fuel in
the recent plantings to carry a fire, but some of the older clumps,
especially of my seedlings, which don't get as much attention, burned
well.

I was surprised to see that the plastic labels don't necessarily melt
and catch on fire. Ones that were flat on the ground were undamaged.
Only those that were really surrounded by dry, dead stuff melted/caught
fire. All my plants are triple labeled with small vinyl venetian blind
pieces - one tag face down under a rock, one vertically in the ground
with about an inch or two above ground, one about the same size hung
from a wire stake.

Since the wire ones seemed to be the only ones at risk, I just walked
ahead of the fire line, pulling the stakes, sticking them in the ground
to one side, then putting them back as soon as the fire moved thru.

I was using the propane torch. Just matches at first, then a
stick dipped in gasoline, then a piece of commercial 'Fire Starter'
(paraffin saturated pressed sawdust/wood chip/newspaper "sticks") wired
to the end of a stick, which worked extremely well.

Based on what you all have told me about life cycle of borers, these
late spring freezes that do so much damage to iris foliage may be why
I've never seen iris borers until last year, the first year they had
anything to eat!

--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society 
American Iris Society web site 
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