I have some iris planted along my back shed. This is the 3rd year and they have never bloomed. They get only evening sun. (which is the same conditions they had in my mother's garden, where I dug them from) They only grow to be about 12 inches and hers are much bigger also. My question is, should I move them? If yes, when should I do this? If it matters I am in zone 5. Thanks for any help, Sue
Maybe they are planted too deep. I learned that from an iris farm here in Oregon. We went on a little tour and the tubers were almost laying on top of the dirt (at least that's what it looked like). Deanna :-D
Bearded iris need their rhizomes to be baked by the sun for them to flower well. The time to move them is after flowering (bit hard if yours do not flower to know when that is). Here in Britain we would reckon to move ours towards the end of June.
I had the same problem here Sue. Mine took until the 3rd summer to flower. Maybe I planted them too deep too, because they pushed themselves out of the soil. They are very happy now!
zone 5 too I also live in zone 5 they r right yours might be too deep I moved mine to my new house with me I might be on my fourth year a they are very large and have bloomed the first summe just a little though,I have most of mine in morning sun and others in evening sun some r in sun all day, The morning sun ones look the best though.anyway mine r not planted very deep maybe you to a good fertilizer that helps promote blooms.
Thank you all for your advise. I went out and looked at them again today and I do have one bud. I'm so excited! I do think I will dig them up and move them to my new garden. I did a little digging around one and I'm pretty sure they are probably too deep.
Yeah, don't plant them too deep. I dig two small trenches parallel to each other, leaving the mound between the trenches at ground level. Then I set the rhiozome on the mound, planting the roots only in the trenches. Also, I wouldn't dig them til later in the summer, like mid July. Let the leaves absorb as much energy as they can from the sun, then cut the fans back to about 4-6 inches with a pair of sharp scissors. After you lift them, wash them in a mild bleach/water solution to help deter any disease, let them air dry, then happy planting. I do this with all my irises every 3-4 years.
