Am I Taking Good Care Of My Irises?

Are your irises planted somewhere where they can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight?

Are your irises planted in fertile soil with good drainage?

Do you fertilize your irises in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer?

Do you keep rhizomes of irises slightly exposed to the surface?

Are you removing iris' blooms as soon as they start to fade?

Were you cutting iris' leaves along with the flowers after they have stopped blooming?

Are you protecting rhizomes from frost during wintertime?

Were you dividing overcrowded irises?

Are you making sure to keep pests away from your irises?

You should consider a better spot for your flowers. Irises will bloom best in full sun. They can tolerate as little as half a day of sun, but it’s not ideal. Without enough light, they won’t bloom. If you are growing bearded irises, they must not be shaded at all.

You should consider a better spot for your flowers. They prefer fertile, neutral to slightly acidic soil. Good drainage all year-long is very important. Do not overwater irises, because too much moisture in the soil can cause the rhizomes to rot. In wintertime, they will not tolerate wet soil at all.

Consider giving your irises a little more nutrients. Fertilize in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer scratched in around the plants. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers to the surface or carelessly mulching with organic matter, which may lead to rhizome rot. Reblooming Irises perform best if fertilized again after the first wave of flowering is finished.

You should keep rhizomes exposed. Iris rhizomes need a bit of sun and air to dry them out. If they’re covered with soil or crowded by other plants, they’ll rot.

You should deadhead irises consistently if you want your flowers to have healthy, nice-looking blooms. Bearded Irises will flower sequentially on buds spaced along the stems. After blooming is finished, cut flower stems down at their base.

You shouldn't trim iris' leaves after they have finished blooming. Leaves carry on photosynthesis for next year’s growth. Cut off brown tips, and cut the flowering stalk down to the rhizome to discourage rot.

You should protect your iris' rhizomes during winter time. Cover the rhizomes with an inch or two of sand topped with a light layer of evergreen boughs, applied after the ground freezes. In the early spring, remove winter mulch and any old foliage to allow for fresh, new growth and prevent Iris borers.

You should divide overcrowded flowers. By doing this you will make sure they will not have to compete for nutrients and lower the probability of fungal diseases.

Good job! You're taking good care of your irises.

You should keep pests away from your plants. Iris borers are especially destructive. Their eggs overwinter in spent leaves. If you see vertical streaks in the leaves, then look for these pests and squash them! If you see signs of rot in the rhizome, dig it up and remove the affected parts.