Re: Freezing/thawing measure
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Freezing/thawing measure
- From: J* M* <m*@bcgrizzly.com>
- Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 09:10:36 -0600 (MDT)
At 08:32 AM 9/17/97 -0600, Bob Stassen wrote:
>When I grew iris in Minnesota (and a practice my sisters still follow
>today), we would cover the rhizomes with sand as they emerged due to the
>freezing and thawing. The sand would work its way down and around the
>rhizome, and they would remain covered.
>
>We also would cover the iris with straw with the first snow (burning that
>and the dead foliage off in the spring).
>
>===============================================
Using sand in this way sounds like good practice to me.
The straw should be a stiff stemmed type such as wheat, preferrably not a
soft stem grain like oats. Burning off in spring is probably excellent
garden practice but check your local bylaws. Doing that here would land you
in court trying to convince a judge on the merits of iris growing.
John Montgomery
monashee@bcgrizzly.com
Vernon BC Zone 5
