One of the advantages of living in the *country*.

Burning an iris bed *seems* to provide at least the same level, maybe better, borer control than the various chemicals that are often promoted.

What's more, burning causes none of the collateral damage that is inevitable when using chemicals, provides some additional benefit in terms of nutrient cycling, and might (or not ) reduce problems with leaf spot. There is very little downside to burning iris beds, assuming you are able to do so.

I wonder if soil solarization would be effective?

I know that solarization helps reduce the problems with wilt in my tomatoes. It gets pretty hot under there! I use black tarps and it really soaks up the sun. Of course I rotate crops. It would have to be used to establish a new bed. It may help with the leaf spot, but I don't know how you would use it to combat borers or leaf spot in future years. I suppose if you have enough property, you could rotate crops some. But I don't think it would solve the borer problem.

Guess what I found in my irises today. That was a fun evening of digging and cursing.

Yah, I think I heard you all the way over here! I does make you mad doesn't it.

I have yet to ever see one here.(knock on wood). How far north do iris borers go?

Oh no, Terri -- I'm SO sorry to hear it. Hate those ba*****ds!!!!!

I think when God was creating Man, and the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air that the devil was behind a bush creating mosquitoes, fire ants, chiggers and iris borers!

I just tried to look at the bright side, those guys hadn't been seriously thinned in who knows how many years. Hopefully next years will thrive due to the triage that was done today (and will probably continue for a few more days)

Good luck Terri and sorry you are having to deal with those nasty things.

"the devil was creating mosquitos, fire ants, chiggers and Iris borers".

And ticks. And flies. And fleas. And grubs. And moles. And bag-worms. And tent-caterpillars. I could go on................