Japanese Iris & pH--Test your soil.
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Japanese Iris & pH--Test your soil.
- From: "* D* H* <r*@dmv.com>
- Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 17:53:28 -0700 (MST)
When I first started growing Japanese Iris, George Bush told me, "Buy a
pH meter. It's the best investment you can make." I didn't. :(
I cleared my vacant lot and burned a lot (all) the debris and
undergrowth. I worked the ashes into the soil in a low spot where I had
burned (it's almost a bog) and planted Japanese Iris. I lost 3 of 10
over the first winter. Then I bought a pH meter and found that the ashes
had sweetened the soil. I treated the soil with sulfur to lower the pH.
Now I check pH BEFORE planting and have not lost any since. I'm up to 64
selections and counting.
My Jap garden serves as drainage for the higher lawn on either side. I
have drainage ditches to direct water away from the beds, so that
leaching into the bed will be minimized.
On the other hand, George Bush told me that he at one time routinely
acidified soil for Japanese iris. He once lost some Japs because he had
gotten the pH too low.
