It's Bearded Iris Season

With their showy spring flowers, perennial Bearded Iris is a mainstay in many gardens and public landscapes.

Known for its distinctive furry "beard", Bearded Iris or Iris germanica is one of the most reliable and dramatic of the spring flowers.

Available in a variety of colors, easy to grow Bearded Irises will do best planted in full sun and well-draining soil. Fertilize your Bearded Irises in early spring with Bone Meal or Dutch Bulb Food. Bearded Iris are generally low maintenance plants season after season, but over time they can become crowded. When this happens, they produce fewer, smaller blooms or won't flower at all. When you notice your Bearded Iris aren't blooming, it's an indication the plant needs to be divided.

Iris grow in clumps and the root of an iris is called a rhizome. The best tool to use to dig iris roots is a spading fork. Spading forks make it easy to get under and lift the rhizome without causing damage to the roots. Once you’ve got the clump of iris out of the ground, you’ll be able to see the rhizomes clearly.

You’ll want to remove any old or diseased rhizomes and treat the remaining, healthy rhizomes with dusting Sulfur.You can divide the clump with a knife or by simply breaking off each root with your hand. Trim the leaves in a fan shape down to between 4" and 6".

Mark the leaves with the name of the iris, so you’ll remember which one it is. When you’re planting your iris in their new location, remember that iris grow in the direction of the heel so place your rhizomes with the leaves planted in the direction you want the plant to grow. Iris thrive in soils that have been amended, so add a couple of inches of Sheep, Peat and Compost and dig it in 4-5 inches. 

Add some Bone Meal and place the rhizome so that the roots are fanned out to the side, then add enough soil to cover the roots, while leaving the very top of the rhizome exposed. Water in thoroughly. Your iris will establish through the fall and be ready to bloom next spring.