Re: [gardeners] Re: Iris Maintenance / Weeds
margaret lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 03 Oct 1999 07:58:05 -0600
At 09:45 PM 10/2/99 -0500, you wrote:
>I cut mine back after they have yellowed also. Once they have yellowed or
>withered they aren't of use to the plant. When the tips die back I just
>trim to the healthy looking green area.
>
>As for weeds----
>I don't like to use chemicals so have been wondering about the pre-emergence
>that is made from corn. Has anyone tried it? If so does it work?
>
>Martha
>M Brown
>NW Oklahoma, USA
>USDA Zone 6b, Sunset Zone 35
>
Good idea. The corn only prevents germination of seeds, so it wouldn't
prevent the emergence of perennial weeds or those that travel by rhizome.
Grasses are a pain in the bonky in my iris bed. Corn gluten meal, as I
understand it, actually permits seeds to germinate, but prevents them from
setting secondary roots, so the seedling dies. I think you're in a rural
area, Martha, you ought to be able to get it from a feed store. Margaret L