Irises are a common fragrant perennial in gardens and can be acquired in many different varieties. Some are tall and bold, while others are small and delicate. Today’s post will hopefully give you some insight in how to care and keep irises in your flowerbeds. Read on for some tips!

#1 Dry feet. Dampness from overwatering or too much ground cover can contribute to root rot. Planting them on an incline can help promote well-drained soil. Planting them in a very sunny spot will help and they usually do not require much additional watering other than the occasional rainfall.

#2 Iris borers. These are little grubby critters that bore straight through the roots of an iris and their affect can become evident when the leaves start showing brown streaks or start to flop over. Reduce pest hiding places by removing dead leaves, both on the plant and around its feet.

#3 Diversity. Irises come in many different colors and varieties. Some are small, delicate at 6 inches heigh while others are tall, large and towering at 3 feet. Different varieties also boast different bloom times. If you want a show that will last all spring, try planting different varieties that start blooming in early spring and end in the summer. The varying heights and flower shapes could also make for an interesting composition! Make sure to check labels for height and bloom time before you plant irises.

#4 Divide and transplant. Like other geophyte plants, irises often spread underground and need to be divided every few years to keep them healthy and blooming. They can be dug up in mid- to late- summer when they are dormant. Planting them at a shallow depth with the rhizome near the soil surface will help keep the plants happy. If they need some encouragement, a low-nitrogen fertilizer can help.

#5 Deadhead. Removing spent flowers will help keep the plant from using its energy to produce seeds and can promote growth. Fresher flowers can be cut and enjoyed indoors as part of a springtime bouquet.

My parents transplanted bearded irises last year in their front flowerbed and they are putting up large, strong foliage and we are not sure what color they are. My suspicion is that they will be similar to the yellow and red ones you see in the right photo above. We shall see!

Thank you for visiting today’s post! I hope you will visit again later in the week for upcoming posts.