Re: Cult: solarizing

JForte21@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> Rick and everyone else who uses solarizing, I'm wondering if you know if
> solarizing can be done over bulbs?  There are some little wild bulbs that
> grow in one of my iris beds that I don't want to harm (especially since I've
> seen them priced expensively in catalogs).  But there are plenty of weeds
> there that I would love to harm.
> 
> I think the bulbs must be at least five or six inches down since I can hardly
> ever find them to dig them up.  So let me know what you think.
> 
> Mary Forte in Atascadero, CA, Zone 9 where daffodils are just past prime, the
> hyacinths smell fabulous, and all the irises (except Crimson King) are still
> just "thinking about it."

Mary, the little bulbs you speak of are probably Brodiaea which cover
the land here in the foothills by the thousands.  In my garden they are
weeds.  Solarizing provides only partial control of them.  Probably the
largest and deepest will survive.  Solarizing seems to kill the small
ones and the seeds.  Yes, they seed also.   I have to chuckle when I see
them listed in Catalogs and know that I can dig almost anywhere here and
lift a good 50 per sq foot.  

My suggestion is solarizing is more important than the bulbs and some
may survive...so do it.  And if you need any more Brodiaea I can
certainly send some over.  Or if you decide to come over to the Garden,
bring your trowel and I show you where the heaviest concentrations are.

Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central California
Zone 8
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