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Cultivation of Irises
Bearded irises are easy to grow. They are tolerant of exposure (although gardeners with very windy sites may avoid the very tallest varieties), and do well near the sea, being very resistant to sea spray damage. They are also tolerant of strong alkalinity and mild acidity. Keep your iris plants free from dead leaves and other debris, and keep weeds and other plants from shading the roots of the iris - bearded irises are very vain, and like to have room to show off!
We recommend that you follow these five golden rules for success with bearded irises:
- Plant in full sun so that the rhizome (woody rootstock) can be warmed and ripened by the sun. The more sun they get, the better they will grow and flower.
- Give good drainage. Bad drainage leads to rot. Add grit to your soil before planting if you are not sure, or use beds raised above surrounding paths so that moisture drains away.
- Shallow planting. The rhizome should be just covered with soil - the top of the rhizome about 1cm (?inch) below the surface. Do not plant with the rhizome exposed - this will not be deep enough for the plant to be properly anchored. The plant will push itself to the surface when it has established new roots.
- Light feeding. NEVER add bulk humus, such as manure. This leads to soft lush growth and few flowers - in extreme cases it can promote rotting by impairing drainage. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers. Instead use a high phosphate fertilizer at half rate when planting and in spring to encourage extra flowers.
- Divide clumps regularly. Congested clumps perform badly, flower infrequently and encourage rot. Lift and divide your clumps at least every third season, this usually being carried out in August or September. Replant only the youngest growth from the outside of the clump, discarding old woody rhizomes from the centre of the clump.
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