Spring showers bring not only flowers! Slug and snail season is upon us and these slimy gastropods love, love, love to chomp away at iris and daylily foliage! This a friendly reminder to apply your preferred bait or exclusion barriers to control these pesky buggers.
Excessive foliar damage is not only aesthetically displeasing, but also diminishes photosynthetic activity and creates wounds that make plants more susceptible to attracting other pests and disease. So if you’re seeing slime trails and lots of holes in your foliage, it’s a great time to establish some control in the garden!
These pests are primarily active at night or on cool, cloudy days. Begin by tidying your garden by weeding and removing excess debris where slugs and snails love to hide and lay eggs. Bait applications do best following a spell of rain; an opportune time for gastropod activity. If you have furry friends that frequent your garden, be mindful to choose a pet-friendly bait. Exclusion barriers such as cracked filbert shells, plant cloches, and collars will also offer great protection.
For further detailed information on slug and snail management strategies, visit this amazing resource provided by Oregon State University.
Bearded iris are among the easiest-to-grow and the most rewarding spring blooming perennials. We have answered a few of the common questions about planting and caring for iris in the home garden. Visit our “How to Grow and Care for Iris” pages on our website for the full list. You’ll find tips on growing and caring for your Bearded Iris, including the proper techniques to ensure prime growth and how to give your Iris all the attention they need and deserve.
For example: “When do I plant bearded iris?”
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. We strongly suggest Iris be planted at least six weeks before the first hard frost in your area.
You’ll find more helpful tips to commonly asked questions on our How to Grow and Care for Iris pages. If you still have questions, we welcome you to phone our friendly, knowledgeable customer service team at 800-525-2367.
Join us in celebration of our 96th year! This year the theme of our catalog centers around our home state of Oregon. Inside our 32-page print catalog, you will find stunning images of the breathtaking locations around our beautiful state, as well as dozens of eye-popping colorful iris. The names of our 2021 iris introductions, of course, take their inspiration from all things Oregon…. from the dramatic coastline on the western edge, to the wide open high dessert of the east, and everything in between.
Each October we select one of our seedlings, never before introduced, to be named by you, our fellow Iris enthusiasts. This year’s seedling (pictured here) needs a proper name. We are seeking a name which is Oregon-themed.
Contest open to US residents only. Entry deadline is 9:00 p.m. Pacific, Saturday, October 17, 2019. The winner will be notified via email in November 2020. Winner will receive one plant of the named Iris (to be shipped summer 2021) and a $25 gift certificate to Schreiner’s Iris Gardens (to be mailed to the winner along with a copy of the 2021 catalog in the spring of 2021).
Contest Rules: One name entry per person please. Suggested name must not already be registered with the American Iris Society. Any name submitted which is already registered with the American Iris Society will be discarded. You can search for registered Iris names on the AIS encyclopedia at www.irises.org. Contest open to US residents only. Prize will be shipped to a US address only. Schreiner’s Iris Gardens reserves the right to select the name from the entries received by the contest entry deadline of 9:00 p.m. (Pacific), October 17, 2020. If no suitable name is submitted, Schreiner’s Iris Gardens reserves the right to name the seedling.
Each October we select one of our seedlings, never before introduced, to be named by you, our fellow Iris enthusiasts. This year’s seedling (pictured here) shines a golden yellow in the garden. We are seeking a name which is Oregon-themed.
Contest open to US residents only. Entry deadline is 9:00 p.m. Pacific, Saturday, October 10, 2019. The winner will be notified via email in November 2020. Winner will receive one plant of the named Iris (to be shipped summer 2021) and a $25 gift certificate to Schreiner’s Iris Gardens (to be mailed to the winner along with a copy of the 2021 catalog in the spring of 2021).
Contest Rules: One name entry per person please. Suggested name must not already be registered with the American Iris Society. Any name submitted which is already registered with the American Iris Society will be discarded. You can search for registered Iris names on the AIS encyclopedia at www.irises.org. Contest open to US residents only. Prize will be shipped to a US address only. Schreiner’s Iris Gardens reserves the right to select the name from the entries received by the contest entry deadline of 9:00 p.m. (Pacific), October 10, 2020. If no suitable name is submitted, Schreiner’s Iris Gardens reserves the right to name the seedling.
For this article I was going to be a little nostalgic as I so missed my trip to Thomas Johnson at Mid-America Iris Garden, the visits to Lynda Miller’s of Millers Manor, the wonderful visits to Chad Harris at Mt Pleasant Irises, but Melissa and Bailey from Smokin’ Heights beat me to that…
Irises are not usually thought of as container plants, but they can grow quite well that way, and there are a number of advantages to doing so.Two Iris pumila cultivars, ‘Wild Whispers’ (Coleman, 2012) and’Royal Wonder’ (Coleman, 2013), growing happily in a large container. The irises I choose to grow in containers are mostly dwarf…
After a good night’s sleep, I started my first full day in Oregon with an early morning visit to Schreiner’s Gardens. Everyone was just waking up and setting up the garden for the arrival of visitors and I had the gardens mainly to myself for much of the early morning. I have combined…
Customers often ask us, “How and when should I fertilizer my iris?”
The short answer (continue reading for the nitty-gritty): one month before bloom season, while the tulips are blooming, apply a low-nitrogen, well-balanced fertilizer, such as Schreiner’s 6-10-10 Controlled Release Iris Food. Keep the fertilizer several inches away from the rhizomes. Approximately on month after bloom season, fertilize again. That sums it up nicely, but perhaps you would like a bit more to chew on about the “what” and “when” of feeding your Iris. Read on for a more substantial serving of info on nurturing both your soil and your Iris.
There are four main nutrients that we must maintain in the soil: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. The first three nutrients are found in most mixed fertilizers, and calcium can be purchased separately in the form of limestone. Nitrogen is necessary for new cell formation in all parts of a plant. Compared to other nutrients, nitrogen is typically the most lacking. A symptom of a shortage of nitrogen is yellow-green stunted growth. Potassium (potash) is necessary for strong roots and stems as well as deep flower color. A symptom of potash deficiency is weak stems and yellowing or browning leaf tips and edges. Phosphorus is necessary for development of roots and stems. This nutrient also stimulates fruit and seed production. A symptom of Phosphorus deficiency is red or purple discoloration of leaves.
Before applying any fertilizer to your garden, do a soil test to discover what your plants actually need. The best way to know how much, and at what proportion, to add nutrients to the soil is with a soil test. Simple soil tests can be purchased at garden supply centers. Once you determine what nutrients are lacking or are in abundance, you can amend the soil to correct most problems. Your soil test may also reveal a need to correct pH or add trace minerals, for example. Completing a soil test, and making modifications to your soil based on the results, is the preferred method to determine fertilizer amounts.
Fertilization of Iris is important to obtain best results, but must be done in moderation. The only thing Iris may resent more than underfeeding is overfeeding. Nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus are essential for Iris, but excessive nitrogen promotes lush growth that is more susceptible to rot diseases. If applied in concentrated form, do not allow the fertilizer to come in direct contact with foliage and roots, as the plant may be damaged or killed. Low-nitrogen fertilizers, such as 6-10-10, are ideal for the needs of Iris.
When to apply fertilizer to Iris:
1) In the spring, about a month before bloom, apply a light application of fertilizer around the Iris clumps. This goes for dwarf iris, too, which bloom in March. Apply a low-Nitrogen fertilizer to your dwarf iris in mid to late February. Apply the same to your intermediate and tall bearded iris in intervals coinciding with the month before their bloom cycles.
2) At planting, sprinkle a tablespoon of the fertilizer around the newly planted rhizome. Or, if preparing a large area for iris planting, incorporate ½ lb of a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 6-10-10 per 50 ft2 (or 1 ½ oz per 10 ft2) to your garden bed.
3) After your Iris bloom is another time you should fertilize them. Doing so keeps them healthy and in tiptop shape for better growth for the growing cycle later in the year. Wait a month or so after blooms have finished, or in the fall, with enough time before winter so the Iris have the proper nutrition they need going into their winter dormancy.
Now that you’ve got the scoop on Iris nourishment, you can take the necessary action to feed your hungry Iris. Schreiner’s Gardens offers a specially formulated Iris food to help you provide balanced nutrition in the flower garden. Order now for summer and fall shipment.
Louisiana Iris ‘Adell Tingle’The real Adell Tingle surrounded by the irises that she loved ‘Adell Tingle’ (Hutchins, B 2006 LA) was the first iris we produced from hybridizing. It was named for my mother’s sister, Aunt Adell. Adell attended many Louisiana iris conventions and was an expert on plants native to Louisiana. Clump of Louisiana Iris ‘Her Highness’This picture shows…
For the Love of Iris 