Mulching Iris?

My sister planted the iris from the swap. She thanks you very much. She was talking about them to a woman she works with who told her iris should not be mulched. The question I am asking is "Is this true or is it ok to mulch them?"

Robin, bearded iris should be planted with the rhizomes exposed. I do mulch them, but I do not cover the rhizomes.

One common problem with iris is the iris borer. Use systemic pesticide to control it. John told me that Grub Control also works well.

Good luck.

Thank you Sally. I will let my sister know.

Yep, one evening when telling John how much nicer the Iris bed would look with some mulch, he informed me that you don't mulch Iris. You are correct Donnerville about covering the rhizome. Maybe I can convince him to do what you are doing and mulch the area but keep the rhizomes uncovered. I noticed yesterday when bending to pull a few weeds from said garden that he had some larger pieces of tree bark in the garden serving as a mulch cover I suppose.

You too are right on regardng the Iris Borer. He fought those bad boys big time last year when all of our Iris were attacked. So glad it is he who has the most interesting the Iris because I cannot imagine myself doing as he did for such a long period of time last year as he sent through dozens and dozens of Iris stalks and dug the borer out to be killed with a bleach solution. Yes indeed, better he than me.

This year has been so far, so good in terms of borers. The grub killer seems to have a long shelf life and does the job for some years when used. When first starting to garden on this property, I could dig a trowel full without coming up with grubs. After treating the area with Grub X, it has now been many years since seeing any evidence of them. This has been in the five or six year range too.

Hope the Iris do well for your sis Catbird. Donnerville, will look forward to some picture of your Iris bed next year. Ought to be very lovely.

Ruby

Ruby

Ruby and Judy---

Here is a tid-bit of information from my "Brain Files" on iris borers. No longer remember from where.
I think my brain is akin to Google.....:o)

Iris borers enter the plant through the leaves as a small, burrowing-in-the-leaves caterpillar.

It starts at he top of the leaves and makes its way down between the layers of the leaf--
leaving a trail that one can see. So--be looking for this in the big leaves and when you find
the leaf damage--go to the end of the "trail" and squish the caterpillar. NO chemicals involved--
just a thumb and a forefinger.....

Systemics help, of course, but once they make a home inside that Iris rhizome--it is too late.

http://www.fnanaturesearch.org/index.php?option=com_naturesearch&task=view&id=1724&cid=77

http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-garden/2009/07/iris-borer-larva/

http://www.irisgarden.org/basicborer.html

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/e122irisborer.html

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2127&context=extensionhist&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Diris%2520borer%2520moth%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D10%26ved%3D0CHQQFjAJ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.unl.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D2127%2526context%253Dextensionhist%26ei%3DpRnVT7D2PIbV0QGVp9GrAw%26usg%3DAFQjCNGw0ycUMlldpF4HwwEjCc5OYofHHA#search=%22iris%20borer%20moth%22

OK! Enough! I just Googled iris Borer......You can do that as well.....

Gita

Thanks Gita. I am sure that John researched last year when we were having the issue with the borers. I believe he also called Ric and asked him how he handled them too. I know that he ended up treating with a chemical and it seems to have done the job, because I haven't heard any complaints about this year.

Ruby

I can see leaf damage to some of our iris since the swap, but I've been successful with using GrubX in treating them. With all the plantings we have, I find it easier to use a shotgun method rather than "sniper" out the individuals. I use it only on the iris and plan to reintroduce milky spore to the lawns in the near future. I've read that using both is a waste because the spore needs a host to remain viable and using chemical control can eliminate them. Ric :-}

Ric, I remember the day clearly that John called you and asked for suggestions on what to do with the Iris borers. What ever you suggested and he used, Grub X I believe seems to have worked and no sightings of the thugs this year thankfully.

Now, another question for you. This is in regards to something chewing the life out our Hosta. We have noticed this for some weeks now. I will try to post a picture later and see if it gives you an idea of what the culprit may be.

Always something to contend with while enjoying gardening it seems. I suppose that keeps things interesting and we sure get an education when we have issues. The damage almost looks like it could be damage done by Japanese Beetles, but we haven't seen any evidence of having them this year.

Just made a note to snap a picture later and will post for identification from anyone who may have had the same issue.

Ruby

Ruby, Look for slugs. They really do a job on Hosta. Some of minne are looking pretty rough. Holly

Ric---

Maybe you already know all this--but i will share anyway--from all my garden Education...

Re "Milky Spore" for grubs.....
HD carries it in a canister--about the size oatmeal comes in.

It is applied in a grid fashion--about 4' square. About a teaspoon at each corner.
It takes about2-3 years for the spores to have "colonized" your lawn.
The grubs ingest the bacillus, which grows inside them until the grub explodes.
releasing 1000's more spores into the lawn. And so it goes--over and over....

The best results can be had if it is a neighbor-by-neighbor project. This would keep beetles out of ALL the yards.

Beetle traps--if not located properly--as directed--can act as attractants of beetles to YOUR yard.

Here is one link I Googled....I am sure there are many more....

http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/milky-spore-powder

Gita