Calendar of care for irises

These flowers require attention to themselves even in the quiet time for the gardener when most plants are still “sleeping” under a blanket of snow.

We will tell you how to care for irises throughout the year.

Iris appears in all their beauty in summer, but this does not mean that only in the warm season do they need care. Even in winter, the florist has something to do if he wants to transform his bed with attractive flowers.

Works on the care of plants, presented in the article, are recommended for the middle belt. In regions with other climates, there may be shifts in timing.

January

A good time for the natural stratification of seeds. Sow them in containers with a dry substrate, take them outside, and bury them in the snow. To stratify the seeds this way until spring.

February

If you’ve been artificially stratified in the refrigerator, you can start sowing your seedlings in January. Soak the seeds for a few days at room temperature, germinate them in a damp cloth and plant them in moist, fertile soil.

Sometimes iris seeds germinate slowly. The first wave of shoots may appear within two months (Siberian iris, marsh iris, smooth iris, Maak’s iris), but most seeds “sit” in the soil for about 6-10 months (Spuria, cereal iris, milk-white iris), and some do not germinate until the next season (bearded iris, dwarf iris).

March

When the hay plants have 3 to 4 leaves, proceed with picking. Transplant the plants into separate containers along with the adjacent soil ball.

If a lot of water stagnates in your iris plot after the thaw, set up a structure to drain the excess moisture when the air temperature is above 7°C.

April

Continue to care for your iris seedlings. Water them in a timely manner when the soil dries out and keep them indoors with good light.

Remove cover from irises wintering in the garden and inspect the plants. Remove any frozen parts. If the spring weather is nice and fairly dry, the irises will only need minimal care: Water when necessary. And if there is too much moisture on the site, remove rotten leaves and diseased parts of the roots. Do this very carefully and with a sharp knife, taking care not to damage any healthy shoots.

May

Now is the right time to fertilize and weed the irises. To prevent fungal diseases, it is desirable to treat plants with fungicides and immunomodulators. This is especially relevant if the spring is too wet.

When fertilizing irises, do not use organics: such fertilizers can provoke the development of root rot.

June

This is the time when the fascinating bearded irises are in bloom. But in early summer, these plants should not only be admired but also cared for carefully. Make second fertilization with the same fertilizer and, if necessary, treat the plants with fungicides.

With excessive soil and air moisture, the shoots of irises show signs of fungal diseases

Tie irises with brittle flower stem to support. Remove wilted flowers regularly as they bloom. When the shoot has fully bloomed, break it off if you do not plan to collect seeds this season. But note: this should only be done in dry weather. In this way, the plant will not lose its beautiful appearance and the risk of fungal diseases will be reduced.

June is a good time to plant iris seedlings in the open ground. After that, take care of them in the same way as the adult plants.

How does Iris need to be cared for in spring and summer?

For irises to relentlessly enjoy their spectacular blooms, they need to be properly cared for. We will tell you what nuances should be considered.

July

Bearded irises of late varieties are still in bloom at this time. Don’t forget to remove the wilted flowers. Also, Siberian, Japanese, and Spuria irises start to flower in July. If they don’t flower well and are growing in poor soil, feed them with complex mineral fertilizer.

The end of July is the best time to plant and transplant bearded irises. At the beginning of the month, give the plants an open, sunny location with loamy or sandy loam soil with a neutral to slightly acidic reaction. Also, note that the area should not be close to groundwater. Dig the soil to the depth of the bayonet of the spade, remove weeds. After that, proceed to plant the irises.

July – time to transplant irises in the garden (master class, photos)

Transplanting and dividing irises – obligatory measures, without which you can not do without if you want to enjoy the luxurious blooms of the plant.

August

In August, you can also transplant and divide irises. For bearded irises, break the rhizome up by hand and dry it in the sun or powder the splitting points with ground coal. Shorten the leaves to a length of about 15 cm and the roots to 10 cm. Put the dividers in a dry and ventilated room for 1-2 weeks, wrapping the roots in a damp cloth. After that, plant the plants to a depth of 5-7 cm.

Do not desiccate non-bearded irises, do not shorten their roots and plant immediately without soaking in the room, and not deep, but at the level of the soil surface.

September

If the beginning of autumn is warm, in the first decade of September, you can continue transplanting irises. But in regions with an unstable climate, this culture, planted in the fall, may not survive the winter, so try to manage in advance.

Only in regions with mild climates do they divide irises in September

It’s time to collect seeds. Carefully cut or break off the dried buds, remove the seeds from the fruits, and room-dry them. Then place them in a paper bag and sign the name of the variety.

September is the time to carefully weed irises and prepare them for the winter. At the same time, you can cut back the leaves at a height of 10-15cm. This is to prevent bacteriosis and fusarium from developing on the plant and to allow the young leaves to grow more quickly in the spring.

October-November

Prepare irises for wintering. Cut back the leaves if you didn’t have time to do so in September and take care of the cover. Cover the roots of winter-hardy varieties with a layer of 10-15 cm of peat. Less winter-hardy irises in the second half of October additionally cover them with spruce twigs. It will hold back the snow and thereby insulate the plants.

Cover the most fastidious irises with lapnuts or dry leaves first, and then with the onset of frost pull a polyethylene film over the previously installed frame.

In the spring, remember to ventilate the plants that are wintering under the film cover.

Before frost sets in, sow iris seeds for the winter in furrows to a depth of about 3 cm or in containers buried in the ground. At the same time, you can send the seeds to the refrigerator for artificial stratification. Keep them there for about three months.

If at the very end of autumn it is still warm enough, complete the work that you did not have time to do in October. But keep in mind: In regions with a cold climate, it’s too late to sow seeds.

December

Search the internet for information on unusual varieties of iris. Look at the new ones and choose plants that aren’t yet in your collection. But note: Planting material is recommended to buy only from official growers and suppliers.

And how do you take care of your irises throughout the season so that you will enjoy lush blooms every year?