What month is best to plant iris bulbs?
When, Where and How to Plant Bearded Iris Rhizomes: For best results, Iris should be planted in July, August or September. It’s imperative that the roots of newly planted Iris be well-established before the growing season ends. In areas with hot summers and mild winters, September or October planting may be preferred. Bearded irises are planted in the late summer or early fall. Soak the rhizomes and root in water for a few hours before planting. The hole should be 6 to 8-inches deep with a central mound and spaced about 18 inches apart.Plant on a mound or raised bed in well drained soil. Most iris varieties do not like to be in moist conditions as rot can set in. Make sure the plant will get at least 6 hours of sun for the best blooms.Hot and humid conditions do not sound like a good time to garden. If you are a lover of iris, forget about the weather as there is work to be done. Late July through mid August is the best time to plant, move or divide iris.Bearded Iris prefer at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. In hot climates (zones 8-11), they will tolerate 4-6 hours of sun. Make sure your Iris get some shade during the day in hotter climates. Bearded Iris prefer to be planted in well-drained soil.Once established you should reduce the watering until the winter or fall rains set in. During dry spells (over three or four weeks long) you will need to give them a good deep watering every 3 to 4 weeks depending on the temperature. The second time the Iris needs water is in the early spring.
How long will iris bulbs last?
Whatever type of iris bulb or rhizome you have, don’t store it for more than one year. These nutrient-filled structures are unlikely to survive longer than this out of the ground. Typically, you’ll want to lift iris bulbs or rhizomes out of the ground when they are finished flowering and the leaves are dying back. Here is how rebloomers work: The rhizome of an iris can produce only one flower stem and it usually takes an entire year to mature and bloom.Split the irises every year, after flowering has ended during June. At this point the early summer leaves and flower stems have started to die back, and the late summer leaves have started to grow. Split individual plants by cleaving the rhizomes with a spade, leaving the part to be retained undisturbed in the soil.Some gardeners prefer to treat them as annuals and plant fresh bulbs every fall but if the iris bulbs are happy in a sunny, well-drained spot, they will bloom for many years.Bearded irises are planted in the late summer or early fall. Soak the rhizomes and root in water for a few hours before planting. The hole should be 6 to 8-inches deep with a central mound and spaced about 18 inches apart.Reblooming irises perform best if fertilized again after the first wave of flowering is finished. Do not overwater irises; too much moisture in the soil can cause the rhizomes to rot. Water consistently and deeply, especially during summer drought. Keep rhizomes exposed.
Do irises like sun or shade?
Aspect & position: Full sun is ideal for most irises (bearded need full sun), though some will tolerate part shade (Iris reticulata and Iris histrioides are fine in part shade). For taller types, a sheltered position works well to minimise the impact of wind damage. Bearded Iris Growing Tips Dig a hole or trench large enough for several bulbs. Bulbs are most effective when planted in bunches. In small gardens, groupings of 6 to 12 are effective; in large gardens, use groups of 12 to 24.Trim Iris foliage to a height of about 6 inches. A clean garden will help prevent the spread of various fungal diseases and can discourage overwintering pests from building nests. Evergreen boughs or straw make a good winter protection for Iris, particularly in areas with especially harsh winters.Trim Iris foliage to a height of about 6 inches. A clean garden will help prevent the spread of various fungal diseases and can discourage overwintering pests from building nests. Evergreen boughs or straw make a good winter protection for Iris, particularly in areas with especially harsh winters.Late July through mid August is the best time to plant, move or divide iris. Iris is one of the most popular perennials in the garden and easy to grow. Although they provide pleasure for many years with little care, periodic dividing is an important cultural practice for maintaining plant health.
Do iris bulbs multiply?
Dig – Irises multiply through the production of underground rhizomes. Each of these structures must be removed from the ground and separated to divide the plants. This can be done with the use of a garden spade or fork. To see the second bloom, the conditions must be right, with full sun and rich, well-draining soil conditions. Bearded Iris prefer at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.Any number of iris bulbs can be planted together. Just divide your iris bulbs when they become crowded or flowering is limited.But how deep do you plant iris bulbs exactly? Plant the bulbs in holes 4” deep and 2” – 4” apart; for larger groups, dig out a trench, position the bulbs, then replace the soil and water them well.Fall is the standard planting time for irises, although some can also be planted in early spring.Reblooming irises bloom at least twice a year, in the spring and again in late summer or early fall.
What is an iris bulb?
Iris Bulbs Specie Iris provide some of the earliest blooms in the garden and are grown from bulbs planted during the Autumn. Bulbs are characterised by thick underground storage organs that contain all the nutrients necessary for the flowering period and re-growth in the next season. It is not advisable to use Miracle-Gro potting soil or all-purpose plant feed on irises as the products are high in nitrogen. Irises want to be fertilized with low-nitrogen feeds, so look out for products where the ratios of phosphorus and potassium are equal to or higher than that of nitrogen.Irises don’t like high-nitrogen fertilizers, because they encourage soft growth that is prone to rot. Use a balanced 10-10-10 or low-nitrogen 5-10-10 fertilizer, or a superphosphate. Apply lightly in the early spring and again about a month after blooming is done. Sprinkle it around the rhizome, not on top of it.Irises with fleshy rhizomes will need a pot with at least a 2-gallon capacity and preferably wider than taller to compensate for a top-heavy plant in full bloom. Place the rhizome slightly proud of the soil just as you would when planting the Iris in the ground and place the pot in full sun.Virtually all types of iris can be successfully grown in containers. The smaller bulbous Dutch hybrid cultivars require the least amount of maintenance and are easily added to mixed seasonal containers.