March Gardening Tip – Protect your growing gardens from slugs and snails this spring!

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.

Oregon State University – Slug Portal: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/slug-portal/slug-portal

 

Curiosities growing? Want to learn more about iris? Visit our cultural care page for more information.  

How to grow and care for bearded iris.

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The Whole “Scoop” on Fertilizing Iris

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.

Here’s a little more info on the subject of fertilizing, including a short video with Ben Schreiner showing us how and when to feed your iris

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.

Yours in gardening!

Information sourced from: www.ces.ncsu.edu and https://www.growingagreenerworld.com

Start the Season with Early Blooming Iris

Dwarf iris can be seen blooming among the tulips, weather depending.

Easy to plant, easy to care for, easy to enjoy! That is the Iris. And such variety too! Variety of size, variety of bloom season, variety of color, variety of style. Isn’t success in life all about the choices we make? That simple maxim can apply to the realm of the flower garden too. The Iris offer such a host of choices, one is surely to find just the right color, or size, etc. Let’s talk about the breadth of bloom time, for example. The Miniature Dwarf Iris and the Standard Dwarf Iris are among the very first Iris to bloom. Weather depending, of course, they open up their diminutive blossoms (just 5 to 15 inches in height) approximately mid-March to early April (in most temperate zones), heralding the launch of another promising Iris season.

The Dwarf Bearded Iris are no less hardy than their taller, more robust cousins. Dwarf Iris, both Miniature and Standard types, propagate with strength and, once in bloom, stand up to the early spring frosts. There are several wonderful resources available which provide great detail on the origins of these hybrids. The Dwarf Iris Society is a good place to start for further links and leads on exploring the subject. Several Iris breeders today have introduced spectacular Bearded Iris cultivars in miniature.

Intermediate Iris bloom early in the spring, often alongside tulips

As spring widens its embrace upon the land, weep not for the fading Dwarf Iris, for the Intermediate, Median, or Border Iris are opening on the garden scene! A bit taller than the tallest Dwarf, yet shorter than the shortest Tall Bearded Iris, they offer brilliant bloom to span the gap between March and May, a beautiful complement to the Cherry blossoms! The earliest blooming Tall Bearded Iris will overlap with the later-blooming Intermediate Iris, to create a seamless floral transition of color. Sprinkle in several mid-season and late-season Tall Bearded Iris around your garden, and the color show continues well into June.

A few moments spent casually mapping out the succession of Iris blooms in your garden will yield months of rainbow color from your ankles to above your hips! Dwarf, Intermediate, Tall Bearded, as well as Beardless Iris, are all planted in the summer months. Below is a simple chart, indicating approximate bloom times for Iris ranging from the Miniature Dwarf to the Tall Bearded, and including the Beardless Iris such as, Siberian and Louisiana. Bloom time is greatly dependent on weather conditions and gardening practices, however. For example, Reblooming Iris require regular extra fertilization, watering and dividing.

March	April	May	June	July/Aug/Sept/Oct
Min. Dwf. & Std. Dwf. (5″ to 15″; 5cm to 28cm)	Intermediates & Border (16″ to 27″; 40cm to 68cm)	Tall Bearded (28″ to 48″;70cm to 122cm)	Tall Bearded & Beardless (such as, Siberian and Louisiana)	Reblooming Bearded Iris of all sizes

Intermediate Iris (IB) “Many Mahalos” (Aitken, 2003) blooms early, among the tulips.

If you are one who can hardly wait for the year’s Iris season to start, you have merely to plant some Dwarf Bearded Iris this summer. You will have Iris blooming with the first inkling of spring warmth. Even if you consider yourself simply a fan, a dabbler, a curious gardening newbie to the world of flowers, give the Dwarf Iris a try!

Do you grow Dwarf Iris? Share your comments below!

What to do in the Iris garden this month…..read more on our site.

Perfectly Planning Pretty Plantings

Ms. Holland Spicker has once again assembled a perfect planning guide for companions in your Iris bed, this time for the pinks, reds and purples. Her use of collages of color and plants makes planning your decorative garden, and your next order of plants, super simple.

You might also take a peek at our Bearded Iris planting guide pages found on our website.

Happy planning!

The Schreiner Family

By Susanne Holland Spicker’RED SKIES’ (Ghio ’07)”The garden: Where inspiration and creativity begins and it never ends”This time of year I like to pause and evaluate the previous gardening year. By now in zone 6 the irises have been divided or transplanted into new areas. Perennials were planted in the fall. Poor performers have been moved…

via “Talking Irises” TALL BEARDED IRISES: COMPANION PLANTS for PINK, RED, and PURPLE IRISES — World of Irises

Consider the Early Blooming Iris

Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris, Heather Carpet (Chapman, 1999), hugs  a garden path.

Easy to plant, easy to care for, easy to enjoy! That is the Iris. And such variety too! Variety of size, variety of bloom season, variety of color, variety of style. Isn’t success in life all about the choices we make? That simple maxim can apply to the realm of the flower garden too. The Iris offer such a host of choices, one is surely to find just the right color, or size, etc. Let’s talk about the breadth of bloom time, for example. The Miniature Dwarf Iris and the Standard Dwarf Iris are among the very first Iris to bloom. Weather depending, of course, they open up their diminutive blossoms, just 5 to 15 inches in height, approximately mid-March to early April (in most temperate zones), heralding the launch of another promising Iris season.

Intermediate and Border Bearded Iris blooming at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

Weep not for the fading Dwarf Iris! For the Intermediate, Median, or Border Iris are opening on the garden scene. A bit taller than the tallest Dwarf, yet shorter than the shortest Tall Bearded Iris, they offer brilliant bloom to span the gap between March and May, a beautiful complement to the Cherry blossoms! The earliest blooming Tall Bearded Iris will overlap with the later-blooming Intermediate Iris, to create a seamless floral transition of color. Sprinkle in several mid-season and late-season Tall Bearded Iris around your garden, and the color show continues well into June.

Let’s have a few more words about these Dwarf Iris, though. The Hungarian language has a saying, “The pepper corn is small, but mighty.” (Kicsi a bors, de erős.) The same can be said about these Iris of smaller stature. They are no less hardy than their taller, more robust cousins. Dwarf Iris, both Miniature and Standard types, propagate with strength and, once in bloom, stand up to the early spring frosts. There are several wonderful resources available which provide great detail on the origins of these hybrids (quite fascinating, really). The Dwarf Iris Society is a good place to start for further links and leads on exploring the subject. Several Iris breeders today have introduced spectacular Bearded Iris cultivars in miniature.

A few moments spent even casually mapping out the succession of Iris blooms in your garden will yield months of rainbow color from your ankles to above your hips! Dwarf, Intermediate, Tall Bearded, as well as Beardless Iris, are all planted in the summer months. Below is a simple chart, indicating approximate bloom times for Iris ranging from the Miniature Dwarf to the Tall Bearded, and including the Beardless Iris such as Siberian and Louisiana. Bloom time is greatly dependent on weather conditions and gardening practices, however. For example, Reblooming Iris require regular fertilization and dividing.

March	April	May	June	July/Aug/Sept/Oct
Min. Dwf. & Std. Dwf. (5″ to 15″; 5cm to 28cm)	Intermediates & Border (16″ to 27″; 40cm to 68cm)	Tall Bearded (28″ to 48″;70cm to 122cm)	Tall Bearded & Beardless	Reblooming Bearded Iris of all sizes

Music, Standard Dwarf Bearded
Keith Keppel, 1999

As Barbara Whitehouse and Bee Warburton write in their chapter entitled “Miniature Dwarf Beardeds”, in The World of Irises, (The American Iris Society, 1986) “…each iris lover should grow at least one or two clumps of them …. However, they are so charming that one or two clumps may ultimately become a whole bed or border.” (pg 145)….

If you are one who can hardly wait for the year’s Iris season to start, you have merely to plant some Dwarf Bearded Iris this summer. You will have Iris blooming with the first inkling of spring warmth. Even if you consider yourself simply a fan, a dabbler, a curious gardening newbie to the world of flowers, give the Dwarf Iris a try!

Do you grow Dwarf Iris? Share your comments below!

What to do in the Iris garden this month…..read more on our site.

Dormant Iris: A long winter’s nap

Will the recent mild winter temperatures around the country impact the winter dormancy cycle of the bearded Iris? Hard to say at this point. Iris are tough. However, any heaving of the soil from the hard freezes which might still come could dislodge the rhizomes, which could be disastrous for their survival. We recommend keeping a close watch on the Iris beds should the weather bring hard freezes. A winter protection can help minimize any potential damage typically caused by hard freeze cycles. Straw, evergreen branches or leaves, or even mounding the soil up around the rhizomes are recommended forms of winter protection. The key with winter protection is to remove it when the threat of hard freezes has passed in the spring. If a spring-time freeze is forecast after new shoots have begun to show, be sure to shield these shoots with recommended protection.

So, what do Iris do all winter? They sleep – or rather, they prepare for the springtime show. Bearded Iris grow best in temperate climates because they require a dormant period which is brought on by winter’s low temperatures (consistently below 40° Fahrenheit (below 5° Celsius) for an extended duration). This dormant period allows the rhizome to convert the energy, which it collected all spring and summer through the plant’s foliage, into the production of new foliage and bloom stalks. Should the current warm trend continue in areas that typically see much colder temperatures this time of year, gardeners might see mixed results in the springtime bloom of the Bearded Iris. Unusual weather patterns, such as sudden freezes following periods of mild temperatures can result in bent stems or wavy leaves (known as “pineappling”), for example. Despite the disfigured appearance of the stem and foliage, the plant is healthy. As long as the rhizome remains firm, the plant will continue to grow. Remember, lack of bloom does not necessarily mean that the Iris plant has died.

We hope that you have found this tidbit of information useful. We welcome your questions and comments in the Comments section below.

Here we share a collage of images from our archives of the Display Gardens in winter through the years …

Display Gardens, Quinaby Road, Dec. 28th, 2015

May you find peace and fulfillment in gardening!

Happy New Year!

The Schreiner Family

 

Step out of the Iris garden and into a good book.

The foliage has been trimmed. The debris cleared away. The gardening tools are clean and stored (…right?)… Time to head indoors. Time to get yourself a good read or two to fuel your gardening (and Iris) passion. Here we offer a run down of a handful of titles (yes, they are found on our website, not by coincidence…) We believe you will enjoy these. In fact, friends and family might enjoy them too. Pass this post along to them! We’d be much obliged!

Author Kevin Vaughn autographing his new book while visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

Our newest offering, “Beardless Irises: A Plant for Every Garden Situation” (2015 Kevin Vaughn). Written by local Oregon author Kevin Vaughn, this complete guide gives all the information you need to choose, grow, and appreciate the beardless iris—from basic planting information to help beginners, to the essential hybridizing details that horticulturists need. Here, all five major groups are covered in detail: Siberian, Japanese, Pacific Coast Native, spuria, and Louisiana. The garden uses, development of the modern hybrids, and recommended cultures are given for each of the diverse groups of beardless irises. In addition, a separate chapter covers the techniques for creating your own beardless hybrids. ~ Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Every copy sold by Schreiner’s Iris Gardens has been autographed by the author, Kevin Vaughn.

“Gentle Prayers for Hope and Healing” (2013 Betty Fletcher) is a lovely little volume. Now out of print, it is among our personal favorites. (We purchased all available volumes from the publisher – Harvest House.) Tender prayers and comforting verses invite readers facing a physical or emotional trial to the refuge of God’s loving presence. Beautiful photographs of tranquil gardens and nature’s bounty evoke God’s abiding peace while prayers written in first person lead readers to entrust their needs and hopes to God’s care.

Whether received as a gift or chosen as a companion for a personal journey, this treasure offers rest, encouragement, sustenance, and a gentle, generous space for refreshment. Many of the photos in this beautifully composed book were taken at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens. ~ Harvest House

 

“A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts” (2012 by Kelly Norris) beautifully displays how the diversity of bearded irises rivals that of any other perennial grown in temperate climates. For some gardeners, they bring back warm memories of a grandparent’s garden; for others, they’re a cutting-edge plant with a seemingly endless capacity for producing new forms and patterns.

In this comprehensive and definitive guide, irisarian Kelly Norris provides an accessible yet authoritative overview of these deservedly popular plants. Introductory chapters show how to grow iris successfully, how to use them in the garden, how to choose the best plants, and how to “create” new irises. A Guide to Bearded Irises also provides portraits of the most outstanding plants in each of the six recognized categories, from the dainty miniature dwarf bearded irises to the stately tall bearded irises. A resource section lists specialty nurseries devoted to bearded irises. ~ Timber Press, Inc.

“The Louisiana Iris: The Taming of a Native American Wildflower” (1988, 2000, The Society for Louisiana Irises) This is a revised edition of the first complete reference published on Louisiana irises, the five species of Iris in section Hexagonae. This authoritative treatment by The Society for Louisiana Irises is based on the first edition published by the Society in 1988, but it is considerably expanded. It covers every aspect of the history, botany, and development of these distinctive irises, with particular emphasis on the newest hybrids, hybridizing techniques, and cultural practices, and also includes suggestions for their use in the landscape and in floral arrangements. It should serve to introduce a wider gardening public to these most colorful and versatile flowers. (Excerpt from http://www.louisianas.org)

 

“The Pacific Northwest Garden Tour” (2014, Donald Olson) The Pacific Northwest is full of glorious public gardens, in addition to nurseries and garden centers with display gardens. But how many of them do you know? The delightfully written Pacific Northwest Garden Tour takes you to sixty of the best gardens in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. With an easy-to-use format and enticing photographs, it’s an indispensable companion to one of the lushest garden belts in North America, if not the world. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, you’ll discover little-known gems and rediscover classic gardens—all of them filled with beauty, history, drama, and excitement. ~ Timber Press, Inc. Every copy sold by Schreiner’s Iris Gardens has been autographed by the author, Donald Olson.

The World of Irises (1978, 1989
Editors: Warburton and Hamblen
Published by The American Iris Society)
494 pages, with 32 pages of color photos. Hardcover.

The official American Iris Society publication that effectively is THE complete modern authoritative source book on Iris. Written for the Iris enthusiast, it contains sections from 34 authors including international authorities covering all phases of Iris both scientific and popular. This book is invaluable for the Iris lover. Still the best Iris reference work currently on the market.

Visit our online “Gift Store” for all of these books, plus lovely Iris-themed gifts.

Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!

Iris Foliage In The Summer Garden

Iris foliage in the summer garden

Bearded Iris really offer so much to the mixed perennial garden. The beauty they offer in the spring is uncontested, but we often get questions about what to do with the foliage after the spring bloom has faded. Culturally speaking, the foliage must remain intact through the summer growth phase. The foliage converts the energy to feed the growing rhizomes. Shorter foliage can limit the energy conversion. That said, we ourselves trim the foliage when we prepare our plants for order fulfillment. This practice of trimming foliage is also generally followed when gardeners divide and transplant Iris in their home gardens. The shorter foliage facilitates planting — the long blades of the Iris foliage can often prove too heavy for the newly planted rhizome to bear, causing the plant to become dislodged. Established Iris, of course, with their larger root systems, can bear the weight of the foliage.

Thus, we recommend leaving the foliage untrimmed throughout the summer months. Planted among other summer blooming perennials and shrubs, the vertical lines of the Iris foliage provide a wonderful counterpoint to other forms in your garden. The images here illustrate this point. These photos were taken in our Display Gardens in late July.

Iris bed in mid-summer. Vertical lines contrast with shorter annuals and greenery.

Back in the summer of 2012, we published a blog post on the subject of planting and trimming Bearded Iris. Take a look here at that post for more details on planting and trimming.

Thank you as always for reading. How do you appreciate the Iris foliage in your garden? Post a comment below.

And take a look at our summer sale and clearance pages. Some really terrific Iris can be had for some super low prices!

Bearded Iris Grow Strong All Summer Long

Summer days, summer gardens. Most enjoyable. For the Tall Bearded Iris in your garden, summer is also the perfect time to grow, to expand, to be transplanted.

Bearded Iris experience two root growth cycles in their annual growing cycle. The springtime growth we all eagerly anticipate in our Iris beds begins with the lengthening of the foliage upward and the root system outward. The rhizome uses its stored-up nutrients.”….As the bud swellings appear in the new fans there is a quickening of the new roots that will supply the plant with nutrients for new growth during and after bloom. The old roots from the previous year’s growth then wither and decay.” ( The World of Irises, p 314)  After the springtime color display of full bloom has passed for the year, the underground development begins in earnest.

The Iris revel in the long summer days. During the six to eight weeks post bloom, the plants absorb the necessary nutrients for next spring’s growth and bloom. The rhizomes send out new increases which will become new self-contained, self-supporting rhizomes by early to mid-July. Once the summer growth is complete, the Iris takes a well-earned rest. Enter the gardener, spade in hand, plan in mind. Now is the time to dig, divide, share and transplant.

Here, in the Willamette Valley our Iris bloom season ends early- to mid-June. Therefore, at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, we begin digging our fields early to mid-July. On a smaller scale in your garden, consider digging your Iris to transplant this summer if the clump is three to five years old. Share the divided Iris not only in your own garden, but also with the neighbors, friends and family….garden clubs, retirement homes, 4H clubs, and so on. Allowing Iris clumps to become over grown can lead to poor or no blossoms, smaller and smaller rhizomes, and outbreaks of rhizome-based diseases (such as bacterial soft rot).

Remember that the latest date for transplanting depends on local conditions. Newly planted Iris require a minimum of 6 weeks to set their new roots. Thus, they should be in the ground a minimum of six weeks before the first hard frost. Consult local resources to determine the frost dates in your area.

So, how do you go about digging and dividing the Iris in your garden? Visit our “How to Grow Iris” pages for more details and images on dividing and caring for your Iris! Take a look at another great Iris care resource, “A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow“, by Kelly D. Norris.

What’s happening in the July garden? To trim or not to trim the foliage…Depending on your location, you may have a handful of lingering Iris blossoms, or all of your bloom stalks might be sporting the papery remains of the seasons’ blooms. When all blossoms on the stalks have finished, carefully trim the bloom stalk at its base. Leave all green foliage, though, in place. They offer an elegant vertical visual throughout the garden. You may remove any browned and dry leaves. Keep the Iris beds clean and free of weeds. Well-established Iris plants are drought tolerant. Newly planted Iris, though, do require a good long drink approximately every 7 to 10 days if the weather is very dry. Reblooming Iris also prefer irrigation between the spring bloom and summer/autumn re-bloom times. We recommend an application of a low-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 6-10-10) approximately one month after blooms have finished. Superphosphate and bonemeal also work well as a fertilizer for Iris.

Summer brings the promise of long days enjoying our gardens and all aspects of our lives. The season also brings with it our annual Summer Sale. You’ll find over 300 varieties of Tall Bearded Iris at deeply discounted prices.

Sultry July Nights in the Iris Garden

Hot summer nights. Hot summer days. Sultry summer afternoons….. Perfect for dreaming, for transformation. For the Iris in your garden, it’s the perfect time to grow, to expand, to be transplanted.

The single Iris rhizome you planted last summer has transformed even in just one year, promising an even greater display come next spring. Here’s how: Bearded Iris experience two root growth cycles in their annual growing cycle. The springtime growth we all eagerly anticipate in our Iris beds begins with the lengthening of the foliage upward and the root system outward. The rhizome uses its stored-up nutrients.  Borrowing from Ben Hager, who writes in his chapter on Bearded Iris propagation in The World of Irises, “….as the bud swellings appear in the new fans there is a quickening of the new roots that will supply the plant with nutrients for new growth during and after bloom. The old roots from the previous year’s growth then wither and decay.” (p 314)  The springtime growth of the Iris, from bud to past bloom, is largely above ground… thankfully for us gardeners who eat up the sight with our winter-weary eyes. After the color display of full bloom has passed for the year, the underground development begins in earnest.

The Iris revel in the long summer days. During the six to eight weeks post bloom, the plants absorb the necessary nutrients for next spring’s growth and bloom. The rhizomes send out new increases which will become new self-contained, self-supporting rhizomes by the end of the summer. Once the summer growth is complete, the Iris takes a well-earned rest. Then gardeners eager to expand their Iris empire can begin to think about dividing older Iris clumps and transplanting the new rhizomes.

The Iris rhizome has reached full maturity as the sultry July days, the dog days of August arrive; summer dormancy has set in. Here, in the Willamette Valley our Iris bloom season ends early to mid June. Therefore, at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, we begin digging our fields early to mid-July. We are “transplanting” our Iris all over the world. On a smaller scale in your garden, consider digging your Iris to transplant if the clump is three to five years old. Overgrown clumps can lead to poor or no flowering habits, smaller and smaller rhizomes, and outbreaks of rhizome-based diseases (such as bacterial soft rot). Share the divided Iris not only in your own garden, but also with the neighbors, friends and family….garden clubs, retirement homes, 4H clubs, and so on.  Remember that the latest date for transplanting depends on local conditions. Newly planted Iris require a minimum of 6 weeks to set their new roots. Thus, they should be in the ground a minimum of six weeks before the first hard frost. Consult local resources to determine the frost dates in your area.

So, how do you go about digging and dividing the Iris in your garden? Visit our “How to Grow Iris” pages for more details and images on dividing and caring for your Iris! Take a look at another great Iris care resource, “A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow“, by Kelly D. Norris.

~ Happy Gardening!