Bearded Iris are tall, show-stopping plants that range in color from white to deep purple, some having two colors, or two tones of the same color. They are an outstanding backdrop to smaller plants and make an excellent addition to bouquets. Their foliage stays green long after flowering, which makes them a first-rate addition to any garden.
They are, however, a high-maintenance plant. The rhizomes, the roots of the Bearded Iris,
are susceptible to soft rot and borer damage.
This can be eliminated by dividing the rhizomes every two to three
years. The rhizomes of a Bearded Iris can be divided any time after they bloom
through the month of August.
Here are the steps to follow:
** Carefully lift the plants from the ground using a
pitchfork starting about a foot away from the outermost edge of the plant.
** Shake off the loose soil then rinse them thoroughly. By doing so, you can inspect the rhizomes and
roots for damage from insects.
** Cut the foliage back to approximately six inches.
** Gently pull separate rhizome sections apart and search
each one for small holes or dark streaks.
This will indicate if you have iris borers.
** Soft spots in the rhizome indicate the roots have soft
rot.
** Using a sharp knife, cut away infected areas and throw
them away.
** One the infected rhizomes are eliminated, you can divide
them. The best place is at a place where
the rhizome is forked. Cut them so that
each section has a healthy root system and is at least three inches long.
** Replant sections where they can get full sun, in shallow
holes about two to three inches deep and about a foot apart, spreading the
roots out in all directions. If buried too deep, the flower will not bloom.
** Water thoroughly and at least once a week thereafter
until new growth appears.
This process needs to occur approximately every two to three
years otherwise the flower will stop blooming.
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