Don't miss out! This is THE year to divide your bearded irises for maximum impact! Learn when and how to divide bearded irises with these simple tips.
The best time to divide bearded irises is after flowering when they go dormant during late summer.
To reduce plant stress and encourage strong root growth, cut the foliage back to roughly a third of its height before dividing.
Carefully dig up the clumps of rhizomes using a shovel or spade. Be gentle to avoid damaging them.
Then cut the rhizomes into smaller sections, making sure each section has at least one fan of leaves and a few roots.
Discard any damaged or diseased rhizomes because you don’t want to plant those. Keep rhizomes that have healthy roots and one or two leaf fans.
Next, replant the divided rhizomes. When planting, dig a shallow hole that’s roughly 10″ diamter by 4″ deep. Add soil to the center of the hold so you can set the rhizome on top and spread the roots out.
Then backfill with good garden soil but make sure the rhizome top is visible to the surface of the soil. When you plant them too deeply, they may not flower.
Visit the blog to learn more about how to grow bearded iris and enjoy the flowers.