Thanks Leo! I just sent an explanation of what else is in the beds. I don't add water in the winter. Sounds like I need to give the iris more air. I have never been able to really much before because I had a flock of miniature chickens that kept things stirred up. This year a coon and a huge, grey, barn owl conspired to kill all but one chicken and she is now in one of the hen houses. I thought I'd make lemon aid from the lemon of losing my prime breeding stock and mulch like they say in all the how-to articles. Nothing is easy. Colleen -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Leo A. Martin Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2012 10:01 AM To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: Re: [pbs] Iris Hello Colleen, > I have an unexpected large amount of [elm] leaves this fall, ...so I > have been piling them on my flower beds as a mulch. > Most of my Iris still have green leaves. Is it OK to bury them under > leaves? In your desert climate you might get away with it if you don't give extra water all winter. (I bet you don't do that.) Are you thinking of mulching the Iris beds because of other things in there? The Iris don't need the mulch and are prone to rot if too wet. Leo Martin Phoenix Arizona USA