I was so busy posting in another thread that I didn't get a chance to come back here and share my moment of irony. Not even two minutes after I submitted my last post in this thread, the mailman dropped off my second-ever iris order on my doorstep. (Which completes my orders for this year so far.) Good thing you guys confirmed my bed looks okay...I'm going to have to go out and create another one now! (I was half expecting that this one wouldn't come until September, so I thought I had a lot of time!)

I'm really excited! I'll post pictures in the 2016 Iris Orders thread later.

Great job DND, can't wait to see your blooms next spring or summer,
with Debra, nice dirt!!

I miss the nice rich dirt we had in Michigan..... The clay of NC is a poor substitute.

Lestv said:I miss the nice rich dirt we had in Michigan..... The clay of NC is a poor substitute.

What dirt did you have? I'm constantly bemoaning the soil here, it is clay-like and hard. I have dirt trucked in for planting my daylilies and other things in my garden beds.

You will find that planting this time of year will give your plants a good time to root in prior to the frost/freeze in October or so. Those planted in September don't do as well and end up with more winter losses. So the box is "right on time."

When you say "trucked in," what do you mean, DND? I've brought home bags and bags and bags of compost, topsoil, mulch...you name it! I am composting, but that's nowhere near enough to fill my new raised beds. I'm having two more built...maybe you have a better dirt idea??!!

Okay, catching up a bit on comments now that I have a moment...

Debra - thank you for the compliment on my dirt! I can totally relate, I like to see good dirt in other yards, too. Mine is 'artificial', if you will. The soil here is compacted clay and difficult to dig into, so it's much easier to simply put together some raised garden beds, throw some dirt in them, and put the plants in.

Leslie - Thank you for the suggestion to make sure they are only stapled to one leaf. I will go out tomorrow and take a look at them to be sure. Tomorrow is going to be a garden day for me, so I'll be grabbing the sunblock and toughing it out, 90+ degrees or not.

Dave - Is compost/peat a bad choice for planting irises in, then? Although I sometimes question whether or not their compost is pure compost or not, I have to imagine it is still pretty rich soil. Glad to hear that my package is right on time. I've read that, too, that irises need more time to get settled in the north before winter hits.

Jolana - thank you! I like my trucked-in dirt, too, for the most part. (There are, however, random bits of plastic and other weird things that make their way to the surface over time...I guess the place we get our dirt from isn't too nitpicky about their sources and what goes into it, but I suppose it's really up to the honesty and reliability of the people recycling their yard waste...sometimes things just get mixed in.)

Barbalee - by 'trucked in', I mean we get dirt delivered. I think I have about 1 1/2 cubic yards of dirt that was delivered a few weeks ago that I'm slowly working my way through. (I'm waiting until next week to rake a large part of it into the yard so that I can reseed my lawn that has really suffered the last year or two.)

Lestv said:I miss the nice rich dirt we had in Michigan..... The clay of NC is a poor substitute.

me too You know I share your pain. I can just smell the perfect compost in my mind thinkin about it.

Thanks, DND. I think I'll call around here to see if I can order some...I don't want to keep buying single bags if I can find a way around it!

I buy compost from out city dump. They deliver for a fee or you can take your truck in and they will load it.

iciris said:I buy compost from out city dump. They deliver for a fee or you can take your truck in and they will load it.

We have a place that does that too.

Barbalee, try asking around at landscaping supply stores (not big box stores)... They should offer it or know who does. Buying bags is expensive. I got my pile of dirt for roughly $100-$125 delivered ($50 was the delivery fee, I think).

Our city dump doesn't do compost, unfortunately. I haven't yet tried landscaping supply stores...today's mission! Thanks!

Just as a word of caution......find out exactly what you are buying, before you get it delivered !

Yes -- totally agree with Arlyn -- dirt that is too rich and/or dirt that holds moisture, is NOT good for Irises. They will actually do better in the clay.

I also miss the beautiful black soil of northern Illinois. Here in western Kentucky, we have red rock and clay. The Irises don't mind as long as they have decent drainage.

Muddymitts said:Yes -- totally agree with Arlyn -- dirt that is too rich and/or dirt that holds moisture, is NOT good for Irises. They will actually do better in the clay.

I also miss the beautiful black soil of northern Illinois. Here in western Kentucky, we have red rock and clay. The Irises don't mind as long as they have decent drainage.

Now I'm nervous that they won't do well. If worse comes to worse, I will re-purchase them next year, but I'm hoping that my soil doesn't do them in.

I mix the compost with the dirt. Our dump gets the compost analyzed. If there is anything wrong they won't sell it to you. I know this is true because one year they wouldn't sell it to me. A very long time ago when I was taking a Master Gardener class we toured the dump. At that time if you requested their analysis report they would give a copy of it to you.

iciris, I wish ours were like that, but I *highly* doubt they are. Right now, for me, ignorance is bliss, because they are the easiest source of dirt for me.

It's not my intention to "scare" anyone, but, my on going rot problems were all "soil related", so it's wise to "proceed with caution" as far as amendments go ! I believe, considering my experiences over the last three years ( and considering that I made those beds with a "trucked in, highly organic soil mix) that I would, if I were you...and had any doubts about the quality of my soil, or the need for any amendments.... contact my local County Extension Agent....they will help you get soil sent off for testing....it's not expensive, at all(at least here, two samples were sent @ $18 per)....then, you will know WHAT the soil needs as far as fertilizers, lime, humus...everything ! No 'guessing' needed !
There are "home tests" that you can do (info can be found by computer search), for nutrients, ph, and organic content.....but , having it done by "experts"is probably best for beginners. IMHO

I sure agree, Arlyn! There are county extension offices all over the place, but sometimes they're hard to find.

DogsNDaylilies said:

What dirt did you have? I'm constantly bemoaning the soil here, it is clay-like and hard. I have dirt trucked in for planting my daylilies and other things in my garden beds. :(

I grew up in Grand Haven. We had dune sand underlying everything, and on top was a very rich black topsoil. You don't see that type of topsoil anywhere around here. My Dad's iris always grew very well. The sand was great drainage, and the soil was rich.

I have a garden mix, which is soil with a mushroom compost that was mixed in , delivered by the cubic yard. I will need 4 cubic yards for my newest raised bed. That is a whole lot of wheelbarrows I will be hauling.