Split irises for next summer r

Time to dig up and divide your bearded irises, from the spring-flowering dwarf sorts to tall bearded varieties, which have finished flowering. mature plants (undisturbed for three years or more) will benefit from this and bloom more profusely next year.

Dig out mature plants with a fork and shake as much soil as possible from the roots.

With care, break the clumps of knobbly rhizomes into smaller sections. Select the healthiest of these — usually on the outsides of the clumps. Use a sharp knife to cut away plump sections of rhizome.

each divided rhizome should have a healthy cluster of roots growing from its base and a ‘fan’ of clean green leaves. With a knife or secateurs, reduce the length of the leaves by a half to two-thirds. Also, cut away old d rhizome, retaining the younger r section which has the roots.

Re-plant the healthiest and d plumpest sections where you u want them to flower in future years. Plant so that the newly y developed roots are deeply y into the soil but with the top of f the horizontal rhizome level l with the ground.

On soils where irises have grown for some time, bonemeal is an excellent fertiliser which releases its nutrients slowly.

The young iris roots will grow w for a few weeks but will then n contract, pulling the rhizomes s firmly to the ground.

in exposed sites, it may help to anchor the plants to reduce e wind damage. An easy way is s to use stiff wire, bent into a loop and pushed down to peg g the rhizome.