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| Bearded Iris Raised Beds. 8.10.14 |
Trying not to over-do TLC for the bearded irises. It's hard for me to just leave them alone, even if I think they might be better off without me puttering around them.
We are at the hottest day of the year, so far. Around 95 F
I crushed eggshells and scattered them one the soil surface. The eggshells provide calcium, which is deficient in my soil. I think they don't raise pH. I am guessing, lower pH might slow some fungal growth, so no more lime. Eggshells might provide a little slow-release nitrogen, and if so that's all they get this time.
Removed more weeds. Removed the last of the multiplier onions, which were a disappointment due to attracting deer or rabbits to eat them.
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| Bearded Iris Raised Bed. 8.10.14 |
Filled in some soil low spots with dry mole hill soil. They were bone dry to a foot deep, so I did water them. The watering might not be needed, and could be harmful, but it's hard for me to not-water.
Last week I also sprayed them all with a generous spray of Neem oil, following the manufacturer's recommendations of 2-4 tbsp per gallon. I used 4tbsp per gallon. My hope is that will keep any fungal diseases in check.
Will try not to mess with them more, unless there is a long dry stretch. The Neem can be applied every 2-3 weeks, and it might be helpful to do that.
No more plants between iris clumps, except a few Sempervivum, which tolerate dry, heat, neglect, and do not spread much at all. There is a grape cutting and genetic dwarf peach seedling in one bed, those will come out this fall.
