Re: Bog Garden
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Bog Garden
- From: R* T* D* <r*@sierratel.com>
- Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 14:37:02 -0600 (MDT)
Patty Forster wrote:
>
> For those of us that do not have a natural bog garden, could someone give
> some suggestions for creating that type of environment in my yard? I have a
> few JIs that are doing well next to my house in our clay soil that does not
> drain very well. I plan to order some more JIs and would like to make a JI
> bed. I have a drip system around my rhododendrons and roses. Could I put a
> drip systems in the new JI bed?
>
> Patty Forster
> Raleigh, NC
> Zone 7
Patty,
I'll tell you how I prepared my Louisiana/Japanese/Siberian bed. My
soil here is naturally on the acid side. I had it tested a few months
ago and it came in at 6.1 to 6.7. I was somewhat surprised, but the
native trees here are oaks and I guess over the years of shedding their
leaves they influenced the ph. (More than you want to know?). Anyway,
I till the area where the bed will be and add alfalfa pellets, a 4 inch
layer of more oak leaves and a sprinking of granular commercial balanced
fertilizer. I till these all together and form a small burm around the
bed so it is slightly depressed. I plant the iris and mulch with
decorative pine bark. I use drip tubing down the center of the bed with
bubblers inserted every 3 feet or so. Attach the tubing to a garden
hose with an adapter. Using this method I get fantastic bloom each year
and I replant every year.
Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central California
Zone 8
