Leslie, I've been considering something like rings too, mostly for newly divided rhizomes since they're most at risk for mulch washing onto the rhizomes. Although I wouldn't do this because I don't care for the appearance, I've thought about how country folks around here often use old tires as rings for raised beds. It would actually be a functional way to keep iris varieties separated and easy to maintain between plants.

The new bed I mentioned above is one where I just put cardboard over the sod in early spring and mulched heavily on top. When the irises arrived I just cultivated the spot, about 10" in diameter, mixed the mulch there with the cultivated soil, and planted the iris iris in the center. Once increases start growing those rhizomes are right on top of the mulch- they seem to really like growing in decomposing mulch.

Lestv said:Liz - I usually hand clean, but we have been very dry so the leaves were easy to blow. I didn't use the blower on the newest planted bed.

Blowing or raking would be so much easier, but I tried both and either the soil blew away or I kept ripping up label markers so I was forced to it by hand. It's so not efficient, ugh.

Liz - even with the blower you spend an enormous amount of time cleaning up the rest by hand. It takes me hours and hours to clean out the gardens. They sure look good now.....until more leaves fall.

For the first 4 years or so I mulched the irises, I didn't know better. They did fine, but then I learned from here that it wasn't a good idea. I did have one that got rot during the time I used mulch, but it sure was easier to keep weeds down. Now I use mulch on the day lilies and Siberians but not the bearded irises.

The dying freeze happened last night. I brought my iris stalks in, but some were damaged a little from the length and precipitation from the 32 degree F freeze from the night before. I am pleased to report that 'Constant Companion' can add greater frost hardiness for its blooms. As its open bloom didn't appear to suffer damage.

I still have one bed (Re's) to cut back, and *may* do that tomorrow. I did measure all the beds this morning, and, even though I DO have the reputation of making a "tiller slip" occasionally, I was REALLY surprised how much more bed space I HAVE, compared to what I THOUGHT I had !

for next year.

Yes, what will next year bring? I'm counting on the irises.

It's been very windy today, but mild temps. Nothing done in the garden, just being lazy today I guess.

mild 78 deg. it probably got down to the high 40's last night. i just took pictures of my first iris this morning in the garden, and the rest of the time i spent with my knitting group. i'm trying to hurry to make 3 more sweaters as presents to give away to family and friends......have to hurry because christmas is just 'round the corner!

I don't know how Gabe can breathe over in Charlotte. The smoke from the fires in our mountains is hanging like a fog over Durham and chokes you with it's smell. And we are much further away. Holy cow.

Talking about snow? I hope some will suppress the fires.

You must be a quick knitter Daphne. It would take me 10 years to make three sweaters.

No snow or rain yet. We are code orange for air quality today. Those to the west are code red. It is windy from the front coming in so the firefighters will have their work cut out.

Fires are scary for sure, and wind makes them burn like crazy and hard to control. Hope people keep safe.

Wishing my best for the safety of the firefighters and the community.

me, too. i know what those fires are like. we have wild fires in this area that create their own fire storm by whipping up and creating a vortex of wind to fuel the fire's oxygen to make it burn hotter and faster. stay safe all.

@TotallyAmazing. i'm not that fast, most of these. sweaters are for children, i can do the whole sweater in about a week, if i don't spend too much time in the garden

Moved a few non-iris stuff around and pulled a few spent iris leaves. It was sunny and 69F/20.5C mid-afternoon, but by 7pm it was 33F/0.5C with wind to 20 and sleet, snow, rain mix. That will continue tomorrow supposedly so nothing outside again.

New leaves are still falling in my iris beds so I had to do additional cleanup, which is really frustrating. At least I had some company.