Help please,
When planting new iris is it wise or ok to sprinkle some cinnamon down first then plant the iris? I had 2 iris and they seemed to be killed by pill bugs or rolly pollys. Then plant the iris as usual. I had a yellow iris and a wonderful best ever iris to me that was a black purple. I love the color it was my favorite! I don't want to plant and thing other iris and get a disease or fungus or them eaten and killed.
Thank you for and suggestions and help

If you can specifically identify what's killing your iris you could take nessecary precautionary measures such as *fill*-cides. I don't know if cinnamon has any effect on pests and diseases, but don't see what could be the harm in trying anyway.

I know that people use cinnamon on their dahlia bulbs over winter to reduce mold on them, but have never heard of using it to repel insects. I think Lee-Roy is correct, if you can identify the problem for sure, then you can fine a remedy. I'm not familiar with the bugs in question. The only things that seem to bother iris rhizomes here are iris borers. I don't think that they are in Calif. though. Maybe some of the California people will have some ideas for you. Good Luck!

Thank you everyone that has tried to solve this problem of mine. I really appreciate your time and helpfulness! Does anyone have problems with pill bugs?
Thanks

Lisa, I know the little dastard (one who acts treacherously or underhandedly) of which you write. It does not bother the roots on my iris rhizomes because they stay too dry but it does eat the fleshy roots of plants that are in a damper area. They have special poisons for these critters but I tend to put bleach and comet on them to curtail their appetites. It does not get rid of them but keeps them in check. Also if you grow in pots on concrete you will need to put some comet under the pot as that is where they take refuge when the soil becomes too wet for them to live there.

Years ago I read an article about white corn meal killing bill bugs. I sprinkled it on the ground where the pill bugs where and it worked wonderfully. Not sure what or if there is a difference between white and yellow.
Just becareful if you want to plant seeds in that area because corn meal can be used as a pre-emergent weed killer.

Comet on the concrete, thank you very much. I am planning to put all my future pots on a nice concrete slab that was once the floor of a toolshed. Would have never thought of that.

Blessings

I hadn't heard of corn meal as a pre-emergent! Heaven knows you can always get corn meal in the south......

One thing good about the wild turkeys....they love to eat insects (unfortunately the good ones too). The bad thing, they love to eat everything else too.

I scared a flock of around 50 turkeys from my barn and iris beds the other day. Here's some of them still hanging around in the field next to me.



Here's the damage they can do.

so sorry Rob, my sister in law has had them peck at the paint on her car and the windows on her house.

They do dust baths in our garden sending plants flying.

It is corn glutton that is used as a pre-emergent, not corn meal.

Yowzah, Rob!

What I read on line was corn glutton was better as a pre-emergent than corn meal. "Corn meal is less effective as a pre-emergent, but it does work as a fertilizer, and slightly as a pre-emergent." (Per a search in GardenWeb). I just wanted to put a word of caution out there for anyone planting some expensive seeds and not have them germinate so that's why I would be careful to avoid potential problems.

Rob - I would be mooooorrrre than happy to take one home with me ;)...but it won't be for a pet!!!

I have got to find the CNN video of the turkeys who attack the mail truck in my home town! It was a few years ago. I will post it when I find it. The pecking of the car reminded me.

As a joke with a friend down here I brought her one of the turkey feathers for Thanksgiving....

djinnevada said:Rob - I would be mooooorrrre than happy to take one home with me ;)...but it won't be for a pet!!!

You're in luck, I'm giving away 49 turkeys with every one taken.

Lisagardens, pill bugs usually go after decaying or composting material. If they don't have that, and their numbers are high enough, they may go after live plants. I haven't had a problem with them in my irises that are in the ground. I'll find them in the pots around the drainage holes. They like cool, moist conditions... We've had so much rain, that I've been seeing them out in the open wandering around. Sluggo Plus is a bait that supposedly works with them.

We have them, but they don't seem to bother the irises.

Heh heh heh... "...corn glutton..."