RE: Cult - beginners
- Subject: RE: [iris-talk] Cult - beginners
- From: M* M*
- Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 09:45:40 -0400
Sue,
Go ahead and mulch. In the spring, when the mulch can be shifted, just
brush it away from the top of the rhizomes.
Or you can use my favourite mulch. I gather all the bags of leaves in the
neighbourhood and put them on top of the new irises, particularly those that
require an adjustment to the change in climate. In the spring, I just pick
them up and put them out on the curb.
Maureen
Ottawa, Ontario (zone 4) -- where ROSALIE FIGGE is still blooming
-----Original Message-----
From: John & Sue [f*@cyberportal.net]
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 7:40 AM
To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [iris-talk] Cult - beginners
Snow is an important factor here in winter survival. I find myself praying
for snow come mid Nov. The deeper the better. The last patch of snow
disappeared here May 1st last winter. Come February I'm wishing it would all
go away.
I do normally quit planting in August depending on the kind of plant whether
is the beginning or end of August. With Irises I usually stop near the end.
But I do admit I prefer to have it done by the end of July.
I do have a question about winter planting because I got an old iris about a
month ago that I would really like to make sure it survives. It's just an
old white one but it was carried across the Cherokee Indian Trail of Tears
to Oklahoma by one of the displaced women. Since it has such a special story
I would like to make sure it makes it.
Normally I don't like to mulch because of the rot factor but in this case
it's only been planted about 3 weeks now. There is some new growth showing
but not much. Frost will stop it soon.
Should I dump some straw or leaves on it? Should I dust them with a little
garden sulfur? Special plants do deserve a little special treatment.
My garden soil is very heavy and rich. Have 9 horses so as an act of self
preservation the gardens are loaded with manure. Not sure I should cover the
late planted rhizomes with something that rich.
Sue in the North
<< I live in the white mountains of New Hampshire. >>
Sue,
You probably could get by with late planting better than some people to
your south. In climates where the ground freezes and stays frozen, and with
consistent snow cover, the plants don't heave like what happens in some
milder zones.
Mark A. Cook
BigAlligator@aol.com
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