Re: Mulch
- Subject: Re: Mulch
- From: B* S*
- Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 08:59:58 -0400
From: Bill Shear <BILLS@hsc.edu>
I would regard the winter mulching of established plants of bearded irises
to be uneccessary and probably dangerous--conducive to spring rot and an
invitation to voles. If bearded irises are planted late or are otherwise
not established when the soil freezes, a mulch may help against the
freeze-thaw cycle. Otherwise, I would not mulch bearded irises for winter
at all.
As Ellen and others have said, snow is probably the best protection in the
north.
Beardless irises thrive with a year-round mulch. However, if the mulch is
too thick in winter, voles may invade. For this reason, I always add mulch
in the spring so that by winter it is pretty far down. The purpose of the
mulch is to conserve moisture in the summer and to provide a continuing
source of organic matter.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
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