Eremurus
Hamish Sloan (Sun, 26 Jan 2003 03:03:40 PST)

Cathy wrote

"Anyone here today that can tell me the finer points of planting Eremurus?
I
have taken Arnold's advice and mixed half grit (gravel and sharp sand) with
the amended dirt in the bed. This bed is in full sun under the eaves so
they
should get all the sun available and the eaves will keep them pretty dry
(ha
ha, like we have rain here).

Now I have them sitting on the planting area, how much soil should I cover
them with? They are flat with the roots spreading out flat and surely the
roots need covered but what about that dome like growing point? Should it
be above the soil level or covered and if covered, by how much?"

The old Victorian gardeners used to swear by putting the plant onto an old
baked clay roofing tile and cover with the very minimum of soil - if the
growth points of the dormant plant are just peeping, or almost peeping,
out of the surface with the roots covered, so much the better. the tile
probably keeps the roots warmer as the plant sits in the sun and good
drainage is certainly a must.

KenK mentioned problems with peony. This is another plant that needs to sit
in the surface of the soil so that the sun gets at the rhizome to give you
next year's flowers.

Regards All
Hamish