How to Plant IrisThe best planting time for Iris is in July, August, and September. If you're in an area with hot summers and mild winters, September or October planting may be better.Find a site for your Iris where the plants will get at least a half day of full sun. Iris need good drainage; the rhizomes will rot if the soil stays too wet. Iris plants are rhizomes with roots and shoots. The roots are always obvious even though the shoots my not have popped out yet. Plant the roots down, below the surface leaving the very top of the rhizome close to the surface. Burying them too low is likely to cause them to rot and not produce the beautiful flowers next spring. Plant the rhizomes at least 4-6 inches apart and leave a foot or so from the edge of borders, walls, and other plants. Planting irises in clumps of a dozen or more of 4-6 inches apart will make the most of the display in future years. Plan on digging up your iris beds every 3-4 years. Separate the clumps so that you can carefully break off the best of the ends with roots and shoots for replanting. Irises multiply so easily, you can give away some or make new iris beds with the extra. Be sure to break or cut off the old sections. They may have tiny holes from little worms that bore into the dead sections. Don't worry, just cut off the bad and old sections, keeping only the new ends with fresh leaf buds and roots. Plant these just under the surface (root spread down) a few inches apart. Next year they will be lovely!
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Your Emails:
"Love your site & all your flowers! I can't imagine the
time spent...don't know how you have time to give us all the
info on your site! I don't know if you answer questions or not
but I have one for you.
I am trying to grow sunflowers (mini mostly) for my nephews
wedding in Sept. They are just starting to bloom(Aug). Should I
be taking off that first top bloom? And if so do I let it bloom
then take it off or take it off as a bud? I am hoping these are
going to last til then. They are just starting to bloom. Thanks
for any advice you can give!"
Julie in PA
->"I would leave the top bloom alone for now, but when the
yellow petals drop, then cut it cleanly off above the next
joint/bloom. In fact, by the end of Sept, you may need to cut a
few off. This, of course, is assuming you have the "wild"
sunflower with blooms on each branch. You should already see
the secondary flower heads starting, if you have the wild type.
---- I hope you have the wild type, because the single head
sunflower won't work. GOOD LUCK!"
-->"Thank you so much for replying & soooo fast! I do
have the "wild" type & am seeing many secondary heads
coming.
Once again...thanks for your advice. Keep your fingers
crossed!"
-----------------
"Subject: I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!
My sister Karen sent your website to me today. Alas, I have
found another person whose home looks like a nursery!
See the pics she sent
here.
Thanks for your hints! I have two grown daughters but my
flowers are my "babies".
Emily
Thanks Again! -Karen
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