CULT: Buried versus Exposed Rhizomes

I want to thank you all for your great advice. 

I am most intrigued by the idea of covering the rhizomes up. Harold asked if 
mine were exposed. They are. In all the literature that I had read (keep in 
mind I'm a newbie with iris) what I found was that the rhizome itself needed to 
be partially exposed. My understanding of this was not that it had anything to 
do with rot but that it was necessary if the plant was to flower. I am 
gratified to hear some of you say that this is not the case because that would 
likely solve my problem. I did a search in the archives and read some of those 
previous posts with great interest. This site is a valuable resource.

Linda suggested that I search for the hiding place for the crickets. I am not 
positive, but I am about 90% sure where they are located. I am not sure how 
many of you who are not on the coast are familiar with Pampas Grass. This is 
one of the most detestable plants ever. For some reason, somebody must have 
thought it was attractive, and it's everywhere in beach towns. It grows to be 
absolutely huge in terms of girth, with roots so established that my neighbors had 
to pull them out with chains and a truck when they got rid of theirs. The 
foliage is sharp-edged with an abrasive sandpaper-like texture which stings human 
skin. If it is planted too close to air conditioning units, their turbines 
will pull in the leaves possibly destroying the unit (hence my neighbors getting 
rid of theirs). In early fall, when they "flower" the seeds scatter all over 
creation and are so fine and pervasive that when I pluck basil leaves for 
pesto in early fall, for example, it is almost impossible to remove all the down 
from the Pampas Grass. And their thick undergrowth is a hiding place for 
cockroaches, snakes and the like. THIS is the cricket hotel, I think.

Mike in Myrtle Beach

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