Tom, I'm going to till up an area for a "holding pen", to plant my "new arrivals in, and am planning on NOT adding anything, as far as amendments.........it will be just my river bottom sand ! I'm not sure if it's "extra" bacteria, in the organics, or the 'extra water" the organic soil holds, but one, or both are part of the problem, I'm sure . I have an area that's a "lousy" place for plants......on the south side....and mostly UNDER.....a row of cedar trees. The trees , naturally shade the plants, rob their water, and rob their nutrients. I plant, (and have since we've lived here) all the "waifs & strays" of iris that I just can't bring myself to compost, and, while they are rather "shy" of bloom.....they are the healthiest looking iris plants I have !! Lack of "amendments ? lack of water ? Lack of fertilization ?
I've noticed that beds that received lots of the "trucked in" organic soil mix SEEM to be the most affected, so
