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Q : When should I plant or transplant my Irises?
A : An old saying asks, "When should I trim my bushes?"
Answer: when the shears are sharp and you have time. Better still, rework the
Iris beds when the Iris have been in one spot for a long time and they have not
bloomed for as long as you can remember. Then this statement should apply.
The ideal time to do this is after they have bloomed and have gone through
a rest period during which the root system will be re-established. This is
usually after July and through August. However, if your growing season is
longer than ours in Colorado, you may want to go into September. Allow the
rhizomes as long a period as possible to get established before your first
frost hits. The sooner you can do this the better the chance they will
bloom for you the following year.
Q : How deep should I plant them?
A : Remember, the Iris aren't bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Plant
them 6 inches deep and you might as well kiss them good-by. In Colorado we
plant them just below the surface of the ground to protect them from our
glorious sunshine. At a mile high they have a good chance of getting sun-scald
--unless you use a SPF 30 sun screen or higher prior to planting.(Just Kidding)
Q : How much water should the Iris get?
A : In Colorado water can be in short supply. We are semi-arid, meaning
we only get about 15 inches of mositure a year, including our snowfall. Remember,
our snow is champagne powder, with little mositure content. Irises hate having wet
feet (roots). Colorado clay soils are very heavy and retain moisture for a long
period of time. They are very stingy about their water. So, if you go out in your
garden and hear the Iris yelling, "Give me water. Give me water," you know its past
time. If you are not a good listener, just look for signs like the foliage flagging
(drooping). You will know then they have gone too long. Next time water a little sooner.
Q : Where should I plant my Irises?
A : Give them as much sun as possible. In other parts of the country that
might be a problem, but here in Colorado the sun shines over 300 days a year.
Please do not plant them under trees or shrubs unless you would like stalks of
flowers falling on the ground because of the lack of sun.
Q : What kind of fertilizer should I give my Irises?
A : Iris are high phosphate feeders. This is the middle number on the fertilizer bag.
The first number represents the nitrogen content. Nitrogen makes the flower grow vegetatively.
If this is all you fed your plants you would have all foliage and no flowers. The middle
number, phosphorous, develops strong healthy roots. Essentially, the rhizome is just a root
which supports the plant. Think of the rhizome as a womb. The outer skin protects all that
is inside and what is inside is what you get in the spring. If the outer skin is soft and
mushy, come spring what you get won't be to pretty. (Got carried away. Back to the numbers.)
The thrid number represents potassium which develops strong cells in the plant tissue. So,
when feeding make sure the middle number is higher. Or, just use some bone meal and all will be happy.
Q : Where can I find more information about Irises?
A : The American Iris Society and the Tall Bearded Iris Society have local chapters and / or websites.
The Tall Bearded Iris Society has a website with
information about the organization and selected articles from their publications.
The American Iris Society has a national website with a great deal
of information about irises. There is also a website for Region 20,
Colorado, of the American Iris Society.
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