|
WHERE TO PLANT:
Iris need at least six hours of sun daily for optimal growth.
They will grow in partial shade but in most climates do best in full sun.
The soil must have good drainage-plant on a slope or raise the planting area.
No water should be able to stand in an iris bed
WHEN TO PLANT:
Bare root irises appreciate being planted in July, August, or September.
Potted iris can be planted at any time as long as their basic need for water is
met during the entire growing season.
PLANTING IRIS:
A common mistake is to plant iris too deep. Iris should be planted so that the
tops of the rhizomes are barely covered and the roots are fanned out facing
downwards.
Iris are generally planted 12-24 inches apart. Closer planting will give an
immediate effect, but the plants will have to be thinned more quickly.
Iris like to grow in well-drained soil, adding amendments to your planting bed
before the iris are planted is the best method to ensure your soil isn’t too
heavy or too light. Iris will grow in poorer soils but will not flower as well
as they should.
Firm the soil around each plant and water in well.
GENERAL CARE:
Newly planted iris need moisture to become established. Water deeply but
infrequently.
Fertilize in early spring and again after flowering. We recommend bone meal,
super phosphate, or 5-10-10. Follow package instructions, keeping the fertilizer
at the drip line and away from the rhizome itself.
Iris should be thinned generally every 3-4 years. Remove old rhizomes at the
center of the clump and leave the younger growth in the ground, or dig the
entire clump and replant the larger new rhizomes.
Give extra plants to friends and donate to plant sales. It is better to destroy
unwanted iris than to overcrowd your planting area. Good air circulation will
prevent many diseases from getting started.
Keep your plants free of weeds and diseased foliage-cut flower stalks to the
ground after flowering, and sometime in early winter remove all dead foliage.
Several fungicides on the market will take care of any problems that develop,
just follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
|
