Re: CULT: borer and mulch
- Subject: Re: CULT: borer and mulch
- From: J* B*
- Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:07:10 -0500
From: "John Bruce" <jbruce@infinet.com>
Ian--
>On the matter of mulch, I am still wondering why this is necessary. I
>do not mulch and my winter climate is far colder than most of the people
>on the list.
<snip>
>The irises seems to be happy with a lot or a little snow cover
>Why, therefore, would one mulch in the colder regions?
I would assume from seeing your location that you have a good covering
of snow all winter and well into spring. When it warms up, it stays warm.
In some areas we have little or no snow cover. We get freeze-thaw cycles
in early winter and early spring. One day it might be 15 F and the next 3 may
reach 45 F...then back to the cold. This will often push a first year plant (as
well as stones that were residing 8-10" under the surface) right out of the ground.
Even though the plant may have a good root system, it isn't extensive enough
to prevent heave.
This is especially true with very friable soil that has been worked the previous
summer for planting. It sometimes takes a whole year for this soil to pack down
enough to prevent heave. We use the mulch to moderate the roller-coaster
changes in temperature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Bruce
jbruce@infinet.com
President, Miami Valley Iris Society
AIS Region 6 / SW OH Zone 5 / Sunset Zone 35
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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