Looking after Siberian irises after flowering
LAST year I divided two overgrown clumps of Siberian irises that had become congested so that the centre of the plants was bare and woody, and flowering was greatly reduced.
They didn’t flower brilliantly this year, which didn’t come as much of a surprise as replants can take time to get established.
Irises do best in slightly damp soil so our free-draining chalky garden isn’t ideal for them, even when the soil is improved with lots of well-rotted manure or compost.
But they were here when we moved in and are a stunning addition, with their tall, early summer glamour, so I don’t want to lose them.
Once they finished flowering this summer I deadheaded and then fed them with a generous amount of slow-release fertiliser, and forked and watered it in.
If the summer continues as dry as it has been so far, I’ll make sure their soil is kept damp and come autumn will dig lots of well-rotted compost or manure around them.
Then, hopefully, next year they will be back to their beautiful, blooming best.