Normally I divide irises in the fall, but today I spent most of the morning digging out a passel of them from my front flower bed. It was quite overrun with iris and catmint and this spring I am determined to set that bed to rights with some proper attention and a little garden-love. I'm spading the whole thing up and then will mulch the back of it so as to keep our wood foundation from deteriorating. Then I will add some more composted manure, till, and replant the spot with some xeri-plants that will tolerate our harsh winter and summer conditions. Iris do that job beautifully, but I was long overdue in whittling down the over-population of them.
I dug a huge cardboard milk box full of common irises and two 5 gallon buckets of oriental iris. I replanted more of the common irises in the backyard garden along the fenceline and I'm excited about how nice that will look as they grow. I don't expect my little transplants to bloom this spring, but perhaps next. Sometimes iris surprise me and pop out a beautiful blossom despite their uprooting. They are tough, tough plants.
Here are the iris transplants back in the soil in the backyard.
I love the boots and stump picture, Jody!
ReplyDeleteDon't you love getting the garden tidy and in order? And taking care of jobs you've been meaning to do for ages? Good work, great pix!
ReplyDeletefrances
Irises are tough and prolific! We still have to move several perennials and divide a bunch more...want to come over and get some? :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend
Niki
Iris love a good 0-20-0 the phosphorus is good for root formation.
ReplyDeletePhosphorus: bone meal, rock phosphate, super phosphate
Oh they are gonna look so pretty. I will need to do the same thing this fall. Mine are getting too big for the space. I love your jeans and boots girl.