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Aug 27, 2015 7:36 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
People who have been on our Iris Forums for awhile will recognize this picture and understand what it represents.

For the newbies -- my secondary Iris bed (Iris Lane being primary) is located alongside the fence surrounding my riding arena. It was my very first Iris bed when we moved here from Chicago in 1985. For quite a few years, I kept it cleared and in good order. Life events came into play and I lost control of the Bermuda Grass, which grew from the lawn nearby and engulfed the garden area.

Four years ago I decided to resurrect the area and began to dig up the fenceline bed, eight-foot sections -- one at a time. As I've done this, I've cleared the Bermuda Grass and other weeds, added soil to each section and planted Irises there. I expected to finish the project last year, but back problems limited the amount of work that I could do -- and I ended up with one section left, the worst section.

Here's a picture of the final section before I began to work on it. Sad
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/067b44

And here's a picture of the thirteen 8-foot sections that have been cleared and restored. Smiling
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/444a60

Progress pictures to follow.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 7:42 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
It's looking really nice, I see you have a nice long empty space between the lawn and the iris to keep the grass out. That should work nice with the help of Grass B Gon! I can't wait to see the pictures next spring in bloom Thumbs up .
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
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Aug 27, 2015 7:53 AM CST
Name: Richard
Joshua Tree (Zone 9a)
Birds Herbs Irises Ponds Plant and/or Seed Trader
Mary Ann, a lot of work goes into doing that. I can relate to life things going on and also the back problems as I have my share. But once all the grass is gone in the beds, hopefully it wont come back for a while. I would like to also see pictures when it blooms.
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Aug 27, 2015 8:01 AM CST
Name: Patrick
Toms River, New Jersey (Zone 7a)
Dog Lover Irises Lilies Region: New Jersey Orchids Region: Pennsylvania
Roses
Wow! That's wonderful. Good for you. You are to be congratulated. It makes my 2 small iris gardens look teeny-weeny compared to the large space and property you have. It's wonderful
that you have managed to do all that work. Hurray!
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Aug 27, 2015 8:28 AM CST
Name: Lucy
Tri Cities, WA (Zone 6b)
irises
Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Irises Region: Northeast US Region: United Kingdom Region: United States of America
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
A great deal of work & seems to be a great deal of success. congratulations..
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Aug 27, 2015 8:49 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
tveguy3 said:It's looking really nice, I see you have a nice long empty space between the lawn and the iris to keep the grass out. That should work nice with the help of Grass B Gon! I can't wait to see the pictures next spring in bloom Thumbs up .


LOL Tom -- I can't wait to see the rest of that damn Bermuda Grass out of there!!!!

Edited to add: I'm having a hard finding Grass B Gon at all! I may have to resort to ordering it online. Hate having to do that -- adds shipping to the expense. Also -- I can only find it in spray bottles -- is there not a concentrate available?
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
Last edited by Muddymitts Aug 27, 2015 8:52 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 27, 2015 8:56 AM CST
Name: Missy
SC (Zone 8a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: South Carolina Plant and/or Seed Trader
Wow, congratulations Mary Ann! That's really beautiful. Hurray!
"Loving God... loving each other....
and the story never ends." Lyrics by Bill and Gloria Gaither

Aint nothing flashing but the fireflies...lyrics by Paul Simon

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Aug 27, 2015 8:56 AM CST
Name: Jan Wax
Mendocino County, N. CA (Zone 9a)
I'm a semi-retired studio potter.
Irises Hummingbirder Hellebores Organic Gardener Dog Lover Daylilies
Region: Ukraine Region: California Dahlias Garden Art Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
What a lot of work, Mary Ann. Congratulations! It looks wonderfull.
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Aug 27, 2015 9:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
creativeclover said:Mary Ann, a lot of work goes into doing that. I can relate to life things going on and also the back problems as I have my share. But once all the grass is gone in the beds, hopefully it wont come back for a while. I would like to also see pictures when it blooms.


No such luck, Richard -- the Bermuda is snaking its way into that area even as I sit here typing. I have to spray the perimeter once a week to keep it out! Angry

Here's a picture of the fenceline bed in bloom this past spring:
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/a6c374

This is the right-hand half of the bed. In the lower left-hand corner of the picture, you can see my white peonies, interspersed with Tom's NOID Red Iris. That takes up three full fence sections -- I'll try to find a picture of that. Last year and this year I planted little guys in front of those sections -- I can't wait to see it all in bloom!!
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/fed680
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 9:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Denman55 said:Wow! That's wonderful. Good for you. You are to be congratulated. It makes my 2 small iris gardens look teeny-weeny compared to the large space and property you have. It's wonderful
that you have managed to do all that work. Hurray!


Thank you Patrick.
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 9:13 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
irisarian said:A great deal of work & seems to be a great deal of success. congratulations..


Thank you Lucy -- it WAS a lot of work. This last section is just a bear. Blinking
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 9:14 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Thank you Missy and Jan! If I was facing it again -- I don't think I would even attempt it. But the allure of having room for more new Irises was irresistable!! Hilarious!
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 9:26 AM CST
Name: Richard
Joshua Tree (Zone 9a)
Birds Herbs Irises Ponds Plant and/or Seed Trader
Mary Ann, I can't wait for the Tom's noid red to bloom. Unfortunately it does creap back in e e. If we do t and it to but we can hope though.
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Aug 27, 2015 9:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
You will love that Iris, Richard!!

OK -- next picture -- I worked on that area for 45 minutes last night. Only made a dent. The Bermuda Grass is thick and deep. Underneath it all is gravel -- this area used to be a farm road back to the outbuildings -- so once I get past the Bermuda, I'm into gravel. I probably should wait for a nice rainstorm to soften things up, but I'm anxious to get this job done. Besides -- I need the space!! Whistling
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/584add Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/ef75e1

I cleared about a foot of space. This is the pile of Bermuda I pulled out of there -- and I probably didn't get it all!! Sigh.
Thumb of 2015-08-27/Muddymitts/9099d5

Oh well -- bit by bit, it WILL get done!!! Green Grin!

Edited to add: That pile of Bermuda Grass is at least a foot high. And in case you didn't see it -- there ARE Irises in there. Poor things..........
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
Last edited by Muddymitts Aug 27, 2015 9:37 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 27, 2015 9:48 AM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Yes, MaryAnn, it does come in concentrated form.....I've been using a different "brand name' (fertilome *over the top*) but the nursery I buy it at also has the GBG......and it's all very pricy !!But, it does save tons of work Sticking tongue out
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Aug 27, 2015 10:19 AM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
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Aug 27, 2015 10:25 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Mary Ann, that is a super job! A lot of hard work but you must be really proud of the results. Your arena iris bed is now very beautiful! I am glad your back held up and yes, GBG would be my next purchase. LOL
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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Aug 27, 2015 11:21 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Did you say the fence is in 8 foot sections? If so you can be done in 8 - 45 minute time segments. One down, and 7 to go. By next week at this time if you do it at that pace, you will be finished!
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
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Aug 27, 2015 2:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary Ann
Western Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Bee Lover Irises Hummingbirder Hostas Keeps Horses Farmer
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Region: Kentucky Birds
Yes -- 8-foot sections. I'm actually farther along than that. The very end of that bed was pretty clear because I have been able to spray that with RU. I'm probably a third of the way done. It'll still probably take a week -- I can't dedicate time every day.......... Shrug!
Thoughts become things -- choose the good ones. (www.tut.com)
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Aug 27, 2015 7:48 PM CST
Name: Pam
Pennsylvania
Cat Lover Dog Lover Keeps Horses Irises Region: Pennsylvania
Nice work Mary Ann! Looks nice even now! Gonna be gorgeous in the spring!

I use a concentrated form of GBG too. Like Arlyn said - it is expensive, but I can mix just the amount that I need and put it in a bigger sprayer. I have a 3 gallon one that works really well for the hill garden.

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