Re: mulching T.B. iris
- To:
- Subject: Re: mulching T.B. iris
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 22:29:08 -0400
Elle,
I haven't actually purchased iris for donkey's years - have more than
I can handle, as my garden is mostly shady and half of mine don't get
enough sun to bloom well as it is. They increase exponentially:-)
Know there have to be a lot of others on this list who buy TB iris
regularly and can advise on the best sources for them. There is also
a mailing list devoted to iris. I think it's still around - anybody
know? Used to be on it, but un-subbed long ago.
If you can, leave your rhizomes totally exposed when you mulch.
That's hard, I know, when you have a mixed bed, but try to keep the
mulch off the rhizomes as much as possible.
I tend to keep my iris in separate groups toward the front of beds
where I can get at them as they need so much futzing with during a
season to keep them semi-tidy and don't mulch those areas at all. Of
course some gets in there and leaves fall on them. I try to keep the
leaves cleared off and scoot errant mulch off the rhizomes...don't
always succeed, but that is the goal.
I think keeping rhizomes clear of mulch is more important in wet
climates than dry ones, esp. if the wet is accompanied by heat
(heat+moisture=rot a lot).
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: eleanor <eleanor@easystreet.com>
> Date: Friday, May 12, 2000 12:01 PM
>
> Marge-thanks for the clue about mulching the Tall Bearded Iris!
> As mine are beginning to bloom gloriously, of course I am also
beginning
> to get Iris catalogues. I have a couple of questions-
> Amongst the catalogs, who do you find to be the the best supplier
of
> quality iris? Who would you keep away from?
> Knowing I am going to generally mulch the entire area, should I
leave
> more of the rhizome exposed that I might normally?
> I mulch twice yearly with large chips mixed with compost (I have a
> chipper/shredder that I put both these ingredients thru.) Usually
in the
> late winter when the winter tree limb loss gets chipped up and one
of
> the compost tubs is full-and then again in the mid fall often
during a
> fall garden cleaning. When putting iris in the ground,
> All my beds are mixed beds-they might not have started out that
way, but
> I have a soft heart for companion plants and tend to just plop
things
> where I think I'll like them and they will grow. Thus the iris
will get
> mulched along with everything else-though now that I have read your
> post, I'll get out and clean up around them.
> elle in cedar mill oregon
>
>
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