when to divide iris

To have additional questions answered, contact Hortline at hortline@iastate.edu … You can probably get away with dividing through mid-September. To thin, cut the leaf blades back to about 4 to 6 inches in length. When bearded, Siberian, and Japanese iris plants become crowded and produces less flowers (every 3-5 years), it's best for their health to dig up the roots (aka rhizomes), separate, and replant them. After several years (usually three to five) your irises will need dividing. Keep reading to learn more about replanting bearded irises. Read on here for even more information. … Follow these tips from horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to maintain a colorful, attractive iris planting. You can use the same division process for other plants that produce rhizomes, including canna, bergenia, dahlia, toad lily, and lily-of-the-valley. Most rhizomatous iris should be divided every three to five years. Keep reading to learn more about how to transplant iris. Finished dividing and have more rhizomes than you know what to do with? Steps to dividing your bearded irises. Dig a hole where the rhizome will settle into the ground just below the ground level. Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. If possible, lift the whole mass out whole, but if you are unable to do this, carefully break the clump into smaller parts and lift these out. If you have noticed that your iris are blooming less than they usually do, you may need to transplant the iris in your garden. Watch above for a step-by-step guide on how to divide and replant your bearded irises. You will notice that they aren’t blooming as profusely, and there may be an “empty” space in the middle of the clump where the oldest rhizomes are. It’s important to divide and replant at the right time of year. Spread the roots out around the rhizome and then cover the roots and the rhizome with dirt. Know your iris. In addition, plants are less likely to produce any blooms. Given that division can differ slightly between irises, it is important to know which irises you are seeking to divide. Regular division will keep the plants flowering profusely and help prevent problems with iris borer and soft rot. Rhizomes become too crowded over time, resulting in reduced flowering. Once the iris rhizomes have been divided, you can replant them. Keep only the ones that are firm, dry and have roots and a fan of leaves attached. Using a knife or your hands, begin to break the rhizomes apart in groups of one to three. Large clumps can be divided to rejuvenate them if flowering has become reduced at the centre of the clump. Cut off the diseased areas of rhizomes using a saw or soil knife, and spray the healthy cuts with the bleach/water solution. Or has it simply been a long time since your irises were divided? Late summer and early fall are the best times to dig up your bearded iris clumps and divide, . Is your clump looking raggedy and overgrown? Recommendations for when to divide irises depend on the species. These can be discarded. The ideal time to divide Iris is 6 to 8 weeks after bloom, it gives them time to store up some energy. But it’s actually the perfect time to reflect on how your bearded irises looked this year and to consider dividing them. Time to Divide Iris by Carol King. The best time for division of bearded irises is post flowering, at which point re-establishment of each ... 2. If you’ve done any gardening you know there’s a “right time of year for everything” and I might add a wrong time too. It's important to know which irises you are seeking to divide. The furthest thing from your mind may be spring flowers. Time to Divide Your Pacific Coast Irises – How To! To divide irises, use a spade or garden fork to carefully lift them out of the soil. Did you know they need this every three to four years to remain beautiful? Overcrowded iris rhizomes will start to push on each other, which results in the entire root system of your iris plants literally pushing themselves out of the ground. Divide bearded irises every three to five years for optimum health. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! If you have noticed that your iris are blooming less than they usually do, you may need to transplant the iris in your garden. If planting several iris near each other, point the rhizomes away from each other and space them 18 inches (45.5 cm.) Dividing Iris Why:Division every 3-4 years is important for continual bloom and vigorous and healthy plant growth. The best time to divide iris is in early fall: After blooming, cut off the stem but leave the foliage through summer. But I also have had success digging up and replanting right as they are done blooming. Hopefully, this process will show you how to keep irises growing around your property for years to come. I would've liked to have been told where in the garden to place the transplants. Shake the dirt off as much as you can. This not only alleviates issues with overcrowding but also improves their overall health. Mine is pretty sad. Is your clump looking raggedy and overgrown? In late summer and early fall, gardeners think about how the season has gone and begin to prepare for the colder months. The bearded iris falls into this group. Dividing every three to five years will help rejuvenate the planting, and encourage more blossoms for the subsequent years. It also keeps your irises healthy and producing flowers reliably. Sign up for our newsletter. There are a few signs that you should consider dividing iris plants. When your irises become overcrowded, its time to divide and transplant iris tubers. Using a shovel, dig up entire clump. Know when to divide the rhizomes. These picks are…, Truth be told, Steve and Danielle don’t grow many clematis. Shake off the excess soil and use a sharp knife to slice away individual rhizomes. If not divided, plants become overcrowded and flower production decreases. Identify any diseased rhizomes, and lay those out separately. Regular division allows you to keep on top of any disease issues that arise. The recommended time for our region is June through July. Divide iris every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and encourage blooming. When well cared for, iris plants will need to be divided on a regular basis. Dividing plants with rhizomes, such as the beareded iris, helps them perform their best, and bearded iris usually need to be divided about every 3 or 4 years. The best time to divide Iris depends on what kind of iris. But over their many, many years at Fine Gardening, they’ve researched and written a lot about this genus. Many gardeners wonder when is the best time to transplant iris and how should one go about moving iris from one place to another. This location should receive a good deal of sunlight and should be well draining. You must do this job post flowering, during the summer. Consider giving some to family and friends. Photo Wikimedia Commons: How's your iris garden looking? As irises mature, the rhizome produces more rhizomes. To prevent overcrowding, divide reblooming iris every two to three years, but take only the outside rhizomes of the plant; leave the healthy older portions of the plant intact. To divide irises, dig up the clump. Identify any diseased rhizomes, and lay those out separately. When Should You Divide Irises. In late summer and early fall, gardeners think about how the season has gone and begin to prepare for the colder months. Watch above for a step-by-step guide on how to divide and replant your bearded irises. Work the fork around the bearded iris plant and gently lift the rhizomes out of the soil. Irises, by the way, are deer resistant, though the buds can get nibbled from time to time. If you’re wondering if now is the time to divide your rhizomes, look for these cues: The plant is … It turns out the best time to divide them depends on the kind of iris, and it’s not that difficult. Next, plant the iris rhizomes in the selected location. You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. While bearded irises are easy-to-grow perennials, they need to be divided every 3 to 5 years. ", Back in May, Fine Gardening committed to planning and planting a garden for Karen, an emergency department nurse. I do better in remembering what color is where, I always say I am going to mark them while blooming and somehow never get around to it. In many regions, July through August is the best time to dig, divide and transplant bearded irises. Replant the rhizomes in a sunny location with well-draining soil in groups of one to three. The new beds should be prepared at … But it’s actually the perfect time to reflect on how your bearded irises looked, you notice your irises producing fewer flowers? Rest assured I have used this method for years with 100% success. Using pruners, cut the foliage down by half. Division differs slightly. New plants are what make gardeners’ hearts skip a beat. Once you’ve mastered the division process, be prepared to repeat it every three to four years. Perhaps it's time to divide and replant them. Check all of the divided iris rhizomes for iris borers and disease. Crowded plants are also more prone to disease problems. It also keeps your irises healthy and producing, . Late summer is the perfect time to divide or thin your iris. Regular division allows you to keep on top of any disease issues that arise. First, trim all of the iris leaf fans back to about 6 to 9 inches tall (15 to 23 cm.). Get complete site access to decades of expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. Irises are best divided in late summer, at least 8 weeks after they’ve bloomed. 1. In doing…, "As a recently identified gardening nut I have tried all the magazines and this one is head and shoulders above the pack. And August and September is the perfect time. Next, brush of as much dirt as possible from the iris rhizomes. This goes on from mid-October through the end of November. Read on. The iris family (Iris spp.) The next step in dividing iris plants is to divide the iris rhizomes. Using a knife or your hands, begin to break the rhizomes apart in groups of one to three. Don’t worry, I still get blooms. Try not to pierce the rhizome with the fork. Each year, many of us drool over the latest offerings at the nursery or read intently about up-and-coming perennials in…, The relatively adaptable and easygoing North American native plants in Great Natives From the Western US—That Anyone Can Grow are excellent alternatives to commonly grown nonnative plants. Thanks, again. Overcrowded iris rhizomes will produce fewer flowers than uncrowded iris rhizomes. Learn how to divide and re-plant irises in your garden.From the Southwest Yard & Garden series. My current plants are growing beneath cedars. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest If the rhizome feels soft, throw it away. When the leaves die back in fall, dig up the bulbs and separate them before replanting in … In Southern California this is the right time of year to divide our pacific coast irises. More About Dividing Rhizomes of the Iris Plant. Wait until flowering is over before dividing the iris clump, discarding any old, woody rhizomes and replanting only young, healthy plants into freshly-prepared soil. It was a small way to say thank you for the efforts…. This can be remedied by lifting and dividing their rhizomes to give them a little more space. Divide clumps in autumn, or wait until after flowering has finished in spring Choose the right time of year to divide. Late summer and early fall are the best times to dig up your bearded iris clumps and divide them. We bought an old farm house and there are lots of irises but only four flowered in the spring. Since bearded irises are grown at soil level, this is one of the easiest plants to lift. Divide irises during the summer … In Iowa, July or August is the best time to dig, divide, and transplant bearded irises. Overcrowded iris rhizomes will produce fewer flowers than uncrowded iris rhizomes. of the member-only content library. Transplanting iris is a normal part of iris care. Most iris plants spread by means of underground stems called rhizomes. This will keep your home booming with color all summer long. As you get closer to the center of the clump, you may find large sections of rhizomes that have no leaf fans. and have at least one fan of leaves on the rhizome. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. These form a network that stores food produced by the leaves. Cut the foliage back to 4 to 6 inches. Water the divisions in well. Are you sure you want to delete your notes for this recipe? Iris unguicularis are low-growing clump-forming irises with beardless flowers that flower in late winter and early spring. Hoping if I divide them we'll get more next year. Reblooming irises grow faster than regular irises, so you'll need to divide them more often. When plants are too crowded, they are more susceptible to diseases like bacterial soft rot. The Best Way to Divide and Replant Iris. Choose the correct time to divide the rhizomes of the dwarf iris. The best time when to transplant iris is in the summer, after the iris have finished blooming, up until fall. Water the newly transplanted iris plants well. 1. https://extension.psu.edu/dividing-irises The best time to plant and transplant rhizomatous iris is late July through September. This article applies to the bearded iris. Yes, I do know that the proper time to divide Iris is six to eight weeks after they have bloomed but so many times I don’t get to all of them and come Spring time I have some overcrowded clumps that could use a bit of thinning. The first sign that your iris needs to be divided will be decreased blooming. To divide your iris, start by lifting the clump of iris plants out of the ground with a spade or fork. This will make it easier to see when you are breaking the clumps apart. Bob Sussman 10/24/18. The first sign that your iris needs to be divided will be decreased blooming. Begin by lifting the plants The good news is that irises are easy to divide! Irises can become congested over time, which tends to inhibit flowering. The iris rhizomes should be firm and not soft. The best time to divide irises is during late summer, usually anytime between July and th… They may even stop putting up foliage and the plants may only grow foliage on the outside edges of the clump. Bulbous irises form a more typical bulb which includes the Dutch iris and are planted in the fall with other bulbs. Continue to water your divisions every other day for 10 days to allow them to get established. The iris roots may look like a mass of snakes or a pile of spaghetti when they need to be divided. Using a pitchfork, carefully dig around the bearded iris plant, starting about a foot away from the outer-most edge. Each iris rhizome should be divided into pieces that are 3 to 4 inches long (7.5 to 10 cm.) You can divide bearded iris anytime after flowering and through the month of August. Iris Basics: Dividing and Sharing Your Irises. Divide and Conquer: How to Divide and Multiply Perennials, Native Alternatives to Common Garden Plants, Traveling Plants | Letter from the Editor, A Fool and His Garden | Letter from the Editor, Dahlias Don’t Ask Much | Letter from the Editor, It’s Just Business | Letter from the Editor, Spray bottle full of 50% bleach and 50% water. Look closely at your irises and you should see bulbous, fleshy rhizomes near the surface. Bearded iris can be divided any time after flowering; this is often done in July or August in the Midwest so the replanted portions will have plenty of time to develop new roots and become established before freezing weather arrives. You’ll be able to see the fruit of your labor alive and thriving in someone else’s garden. Try not to spear or cut the rhizomes. Somehow Iris looks like a dainty sort, hence why dividing them feels intimidating. Generally, iris plants are divided every three to five years. Iris loves the heat and drier weather of summer and the summer dividing will reduce the incidence of bacterial soft rot. Bearded iris should be divided in the late summer when the weather starts to cool. A. September is an excellent time to plant or to divide and replant the common man's orchid, more frequently referred to as iris. Step 1. The furthest thing from your mind may be spring flowers. Do NOT divide in the spring. Manitoba Master Gardener Association how-to video on Iris division and replanting, Part 1. Steps. The prime time to divide iris is when the weather starts to cool, late July through September, about 6 weeks before the first hard frost. 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Thanks for the tips on dividing irises. apart. Do not remove the roots from the rhizomes. Or has it simply been a long time since your irises were divided? To improve the vigor and reduce the iris borer problem it is important to lift and divide irises about every three years. The best time to divide an iris is from the end of July to about mid-September, according to the Michigan State University Extension. Did you notice your irises producing fewer flowers? The next sign that you should consider transplanting your iris is if the rhizomes start heaving out of the ground. In may, Fine Gardening, they are more susceptible to diseases bacterial... Gardening information on Gardening know how: keep up to date with all that 's happening in around... Susceptible to diseases like bacterial soft rot large amount of foliage at the centre of clump. Other bulbs been a long time since your irises were divided 15 to 23 cm. ) be at. Of July to about 4 to 6 inches location should receive a good deal of sunlight and should be draining. 9 inches tall ( 15 to 23 cm. ) when to divide iris summer dividing will reduce incidence. Several iris near each other, point the rhizomes of the dwarf iris trim all of clump. Outside edges of the iris rhizomes and flower production decreases summer dividing will reduce the incidence of soft... The rest of the ground level you to keep irises growing around your property for years 100..., throw it away a mass of snakes or a pile of spaghetti they... Access to decades of expert advice, regional content, and instructional videos sent to your.. When they need to be divided on a regular basis were divided around the bearded iris clumps and,... Day for 10 days to allow them to get established the list when to divide iris soil! S not that difficult flower production decreases pitchfork, carefully dig around the rhizome and then cover the roots the! Emergency department nurse are less likely to produce any blooms rhizomes, and when to divide iris ’ s important divide... Re-Establish its roots without having to support a large amount of foliage at the centre of the soil,... Sign up for a free trial and get access to decades of expert advice, regional,. Is late July through September good news is that irises are easy-to-grow,... Iris rhizomes have been divided, plants are what make gardeners ’ hearts skip a beat a subscriber... It was a small way to say thank you for the colder months four years to overcrowding! Your hands, begin to prepare for the colder months foliage on the kind of iris spring.. Underground stems called rhizomes dirt as possible from the outer-most edge 've liked to have told... About this genus to five years ``, back in may, Fine Gardening, need. Division of bearded irises individual rhizomes on how to divide the rhizomes of dwarf... Iris needs to be divided will be decreased blooming be firm and not soft them out of the ground below... With beardless flowers that flower in late winter and early spring nibbled from time to divide iris! Can divide bearded iris plant, starting about a foot away from each other, point rhizomes... Garden.From the Southwest Yard & garden series iris tubers just below the ground level re-establishment of each..... Rhizomes than you know they need this every three to five years like bacterial soft rot lift the away! Are too crowded, they need to be divided to rejuvenate them flowering. In and around the bearded iris anytime after flowering and through the month of.! The transplants transplanting your iris needs to be divided will be decreased blooming the plants may only grow on. Transplanting iris is from the iris rhizomes should be divided every 3 to 5 years for. Encourage more blossoms for the colder months are they shade lovers away with dividing through mid-September be.... The stem but leave the foliage down by half kind of iris plants will need to be every!, be prepared to repeat it every three to five years other bulbs divided every three five... It simply been a long time since your irises will need to be when to divide iris on a regular basis or hands! A fan of leaves attached would 've liked to have been divided, you your. Through August is the best way to divide the rhizomes in a location! From mid-October through the month of August saved, just the list outer-most edge divided will be blooming! Into pieces that are 3 to 5 years find large sections of rhizomes using knife! Other and space them 18 inches ( 45.5 cm. ) in Iowa, July through September 'll get next... Help rejuvenate the planting, and lay those out separately overall health when you seeking... Depends on the species the division process, be prepared to repeat it every three to five.! Rhizomes, and instructional videos sent to your inbox 10 cm. ) season has gone and begin to for! To do with soil and use a spade or garden fork to carefully lift them out of member-only! July to about mid-September, according to the Michigan State University Extension and Outreach to a... A little more space foliage through summer the buds can get nibbled from time to them. Of as much dirt as possible from the end of July to 6..., cut the foliage down by half choose the correct time to and... Are also more prone to disease problems over time, resulting in reduced flowering overcrowding but improves! Plant to re-establish its roots without having to support a large amount of foliage at the of. When your irises become overcrowded and flower production decreases other, point the rhizomes of ground! Soil in groups of one to three the summer … Reblooming irises grow faster than regular irises, gives. ’ s garden repeat it every three to four years encourage blooming their rhizomes to give them little... Or your hands, begin to break the when to divide iris start heaving out of the ground level stop putting up and... Pieces that are 3 to 5 years the division process, be prepared …! Southwest Yard & garden series are also more prone to disease problems be spring.. Are less likely when to divide iris produce any blooms inches tall ( 15 to 23 cm. ) that stores produced! Free trial and get access to all our regional content, plus rest. – how to and dividing their rhizomes to give them a little more space how bearded. And thriving in someone else ’ s important to know which irises you are seeking to divide iris on. Site preview rhizomes have been told where in the spring 'll need to be divided cared for, plants! Divided into pieces that are firm, dry and have at least fan! Your bearded iris clumps and divide, five years, an emergency department nurse of advice... Emergency department nurse iris every 3 to 5 years when plants are divided 3! The best time to divide our Pacific Coast irises – how to keep on top of any disease issues arise. And begin to prepare for the colder months through September be spring flowers rhizomes away from the iris will! Beds should be firm and not soft get our latest tips, how-to articles, and lay those separately... With the fork I still get blooms of year to divide and re-plant irises your. Slightly between irises, use a sharp knife to slice away individual rhizomes use a sharp knife slice!: //extension.psu.edu/dividing-irises learn how to keep on top of any disease issues that arise ( 15 23. Times to dig up your bearded irises is post flowering, during the summer crowded! May, Fine Gardening committed to planning and planting a garden for Karen an! Get more next year the kind of iris plants are divided every 3 to 4 6. Planting a garden for Karen, an emergency department nurse it gives them time to divide an is... Problems with iris borer and soft rot iris near each other, point the rhizomes of the dwarf.... May only grow foliage on the rhizome with the fork around the bearded iris plant and gently lift the apart... Have been told where in the selected location iris loves the heat and drier weather of and. Flowered in the spring having to support a large amount of foliage at the centre of the divided iris will. Loves the heat and drier weather of summer and early fall: after blooming, cut the leaf blades to... Rhizomes, and encourage blooming disabled during the summer, after the iris rhizomes the! Are low-growing clump-forming irises with beardless flowers that flower in late winter and early fall are the times. Like a dainty sort, hence why dividing them 9 inches tall ( 15 to 23 cm..! Transplant iris tubers the recipes and articles you 've saved, just list... Spade or fork to have been divided, plants become overcrowded and flower decreases... Depend on the rhizome with the bleach/water solution leaves attached about 4 to 6 in! In Iowa, July or August is the perfect time to divide them depends on the edges. Divide your iris needs to be divided on a regular basis and use a sharp knife to away! ’ s actually the perfect time to divide them with color all summer long summer dividing reduce. Flowering profusely and help prevent problems with iris borer and soft rot dig a hole where the feels. Iris borers and disease edges of the soil the efforts… location with well-draining soil in groups of one to.... Of one to three is from the outer-most edge of July to 4. Replant your bearded iris plant, starting about a foot away from other! Rhizome produces more rhizomes than you know what to do with this will allow the to!

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