Viewing post #827557 by crowrita1

Yeah , it is kinda' a bummer....but, if I can manage to keep the small, side increases going, I should come out of it alright. The thing that really worries me, is last year, the botrytis ( and that IS what it is ....... the extension agent had it tested, but there was a 'little "bacterial soft rot present on one sample) didn't start this early in the season. Although Tom, and Brad had big problems, early, mine seemed to not get bad till mid-summer, so, ....it remains to be seen just HOW bad it will get when the weather really gets hot . I have one more bed to do, that seems to have 'some' problems, and then 2 large ones that don't seem to be affected at all......then I'll mix up the "new' fungicide, and give it a try. I'm not really comfortable with using a product that requires a mask, and gloves, and a 24 hour "no entrance", but, desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures, I guess! It seems the 'worst" beds are those that were "improved" with the "soil mix' I used....which was 100% organic in composition . The areas with mostly 'mineral" soil seem to be un affected , for what that's worth. Whether the "organic' soil CAME with a high concentration of the fungus, or just caused a rapid growth of it,who knows .The "worst" areas are also directly over the areas where tree stumps had been 'ground out", before the beds were made, and the iris planted, so, it's "possible" the fungi started in the stumps . At this point, it really doesn't make a lot of difference, as it's too late to be 'pro-active", and all I can do is 'react" .
So far, there are only a *few* plants that have totally died out, but ,as others have noted, the main rhizome.....and that's THIS years bloom !....is gone.