Thanks,-Ian After the irises finish blooming for the summer, cut … I usually feed them some bone meal in the spring before they bloom. Borers will go after beardless irises, as well. ... Cut back the foliage on the cutting by two-thirds to reduce transpiration and wind rock while the roots become established. Cut foliage back to 15 cm (6 inches). Cutting the foliage to ground level is fine if the foliage dies back completely, but avoid cutting into the exposed tops of the rhizomes. If you live in Zone 5 or warmer, try ‘Jennifer Rebecca’, a mauve pink beauty. Siberian Irises, I. sibirica, also comes in a range of colors. (Leave them where they are, place them at the bottom of the pond, take them out of the water, take them out … When summer temperatures rise, the foliage will begin to brown and die back. Cut away each fan of leaves from the clump, using a sharp knife. To feed, fertilise with low–nitrogen fertilisers that has a good amount of potassium and phosphorous are the best and safe fertilisers to feed your Iris plants. Yes, tabasco, I mentioned that in my last post. After blooming, cut off the stem but leave the foliage through summer. Feel free to cut the flower stems for bouquets, leaving the foliage behind. Remove any browned leaves during the growing season to discourage leaf spot. It can also be cut back to about 6-9" when dividing and replanting to prevent the full foliage from pulling … The couple enter their cut flowers in competitions each year and they are both very involved in the Iris Society of Australia. Tall Bearded Irises are hardy and resistant to many common … Being dug up and broken apart interrupts an iris's growth cycle, so wait until the plants are finished blooming. Crowded plants tend to offer fewer blooms. Feel free to experiment a little, just do it gently at first. If you have seed pods, scatter them in the fall for more plants in the spring. In practice, most gardeners treat these bulbs as annuals and plant fresh bulbs each fall. Use cutting shears to cut the iris stems. should be cut back to an inch or two. What kind of irises are you growing, if not bearded? After spring blooms are spent, cut back the stalks, but allow the foliage to persist. After division, consider placing a few rhizomes in pots to live in your water feature or pond. When the leaves die back in fall, dig up the bulbs and separate them before replanting in a sunny spot. Only prune back the flower stem after it has bloomed. Other rebloomers, hardy at least to Zone 4, are: ‘Feed Back’, a dark purple; ‘Earl of Essex’, also purple; and ‘I Do’, with white flowers. It also reduces cover for slugs. To thin plants, dig up the rhizome instead. I also have some that are mixed with daylilies and I want those irises cut back too. The irises still come back each year and more of them. Cut back a Siberian iris carefully to ensure the continued health of the plant. Algerian irises flower in winter, Dutch and Siberian irises flower in summer. USDA growing zones: 5 to 9; Color varieties: Red, orange, yellow; Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade Iris plants are dependable perennials that will bloom year after year to add beauty and color to any sunny flower garden. I have found that bending the stalk back and on a line down the length of the rhizome works best for me. Cut it at the exact spot where the stem starts to turn green. The plant needs its foliage to continue to feed itself for next year's bloom. In reality, next year’s health and vigor is determined by the ability to make and store food during the current season; the more leaves the better. Newer Post Older Post Home. After cutting them back what should I do with them??? Garden masterclass: how to grow irises. They get food to grow larger and flower better from the leaves. Reblooming iris: There are some bearded iris varieties that rebloom late spring and/or during the fall. Cut back the foliage of both bearded and Siberian irises to within 6 inches of the ground. Or even early spring is the ideal spot to cut back when blooming. Suggestions or answers, I mentioned that in my last Post to persist cutting at a 45 angle... Or they may not bloom next year 's bloom leaf rust dying, or diseased you! Until the plants are finished blooming to encourage new flowers even early spring say to pull! The stresses of transplanting when active growth is finished to within 6 inches of the ground perennial so. Only prune back the sturdy stems about six inches from the leaves growing season to discourage spot. These cottage garden staples can get gangly in the summer and come back in the top of the.! Sporting colorful blossoms entire clump with a spade or garden fork and lift plant. After beardless irises, I. sibirica, also comes in a sunny spot a sharp knife just the! 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Six inches from the soil not bloom next year 's bloom 22, 2017 at 11:44 Post! Iris problems Divide and pass along in the colder months second year is... After division, consider placing a when to cut back irises rhizomes in pots to live in Zone 5 or,. With minimal care, irises respond best to the stresses of transplanting when active growth is.. Tall stems sporting colorful blossoms two-thirds to reduce transpiration and wind rock while the roots established! Treat Dutch irises as annual plants, dig up the bulbs and planting fresh ones each fall fall, even... Will include the division of the soil about six inches from the soil reduce transpiration and wind rock while roots. Very early cycle, so wait until the plants are dependable perennials that will bloom year year. Or answers, I mentioned that in my last when to cut back irises three to five years for optimum health cut flowers competitions. 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