One thing that I think we all need to remember is that iris, by nature ,are fairly heavy feeders(Lots of energy used to produce all those leaves, stalks, & flowers), and most of us REMOVE all the spent foliage, etc.,and dispose of it in the trash( so as to not introduce disease & insects). Somehow this organic material and nutrients MUST be replaced. Most add compost, manure, etc., and additional fertilizers.You can use a "green manure" system, with "crop rotation"(like Pauls friend), "spot addition", scratching in alfalfa pellets, peat, or compost around established "clumps",as I,(and I think, Paul, do) or heavy soil amendment at the time of seperation or division(every 3-4 years), or a combination of methods. BUT, as been stated before, both here ,and in other threads,we have to do what works for us!We all have slightly different soil, climate, cultivars, to deal with. The only constant is the "Love of the Flower".....Arlyn
