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Cut or Not to Cut Irises

16 years ago

Ok, I've been reading a great deal on cutting and not cutting irises back. I will have to say that I usually trim all mine back late in the year to clean up the flowerbeds. I haven't really noticed a lack of blooms when I did this.

This year I will have to be a little more careful. Most of you know that I lost nearly all (thousands) of irises on my place due to all the rainfall we had.

Some people on here have been very generous. They have kindly shared starts of their irises with me. I also bit the bullet and ordered some. I've never really had a problem growing iris and I don't really recall ever losing any until this year. As a matter of fact, I never even bothered with learning their names.

Now I'm keeping all kinds of records on them. I've even ordered metal markers to place in front of them. I would like to know who cuts/trims theirs back every year and who doesn't and what you think the real difference is.

Thanks in advance,

Marian AKA Lovely Iris

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Comments (6)

rebel44
16 years ago
Marian, I never cut an iris or trim the roots unless I am reworking a clump or preparing some to share with someone. I do notice other people in my area mow their's late in the early fall and they still bloom the next year. Those wild iris that grow along roadways that are mowed several times a year seldom if ever bloom. Lee Mincy
iris_gal
16 years ago
I only remove dying foliage. BUT I'm in a mild winter area.

If you have freezes, that will kill the foliage, right?
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lovelyiris
Original Author
16 years ago
I guess the only reason I've always trimmed them back is because it makes the flowerbeds look cleaner. I do tend to plant bulbs and other plants along with my irises.

Right now I have fall crocus and naked ladies blooming in the beds. The beds also have daffodils planted all throughout them. I try to keep something blooming in the beds year round. It doesn't always work out the way I want it to. I was surprised to see the crocs and ladies blooming. It would not have surprised me if they had drowned this spring too.

I've been very busy this past week planting everything and getting the beds back into shape. I was working around a couple of the Wild Cherokee Roses and I lost the battle. Those little boogers will hurt you before you know it.

I looked up Paw Paws Everlasting metal signs and ordered them. They just came in the mail today. Now the work really begins. Marking everyone of those plants (grin)and keeping better records. I've also started working on a Dykes List that I have. (smile) I don't have very many of them Lee. How in the world did you collect all of yours in just a matter of a few years?

Happy Gardening Ya'll,
Marian
rebel44
16 years ago
Marian, My wife has always said that once I get started on something there is no stopping me. I bought most of them really cheap. I paid more than I would have liked for a few but they were hard to find. I think that maybe a few may not be correct so I am trying to verfiy them by geting them from another source. If you don't mind waiting a while I will be glad to share my collection with you. There are way to many historics(in my opinion) being passed under the wrong name. Not on purpose but the names have become mixed up over time. Any ID is only as good as the person you get it from and they may have been growing an iris for years under the wrong name. I have a few I am sure of. The Wabash I sent you is correct and will have the PBF in the spring. Lee Mincy
lovelyiris
Original Author
16 years ago
Lee, I will be thrilled to receive any of the irises you are willing to share with me at anytime. My one promise to you and others here is that this time I will do my best to keep them all marked.

Thanks for caring enough to share.
Marian
gardenparadise
16 years ago
I have learned from an Iris hybridizer and another friend that by cuting the irises into an basal fan you can reduce stress on the rhizomes and encourage growth. I strongly recommend it, almost all of my irises have had new rhizome and folage growth and have survived. Only two very weak specimens I got from the hybridizer died. Water every 2-4 days depending on your area's climate and weather, and weed regularly and I have not been having any problems.

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