Think Irises 2016!

Remember the beautiful irises last spring? Did you wish you had more to enjoy? Did yours not bloom as proficiently as in the past? Did your neighbor have one that you coveted? 

Well now is the time to think Irises in 2016! Now is the time to plant irises for next spring’s bloom.

Irises should be planted where they will receive at least 6-8 hours of sun a day. They should be shallow planted. Work the soil until it is loose, plant the rhizomes about 4-inches deep, keeping the top of the rhizome exposed or covered very lightly. Water thoroughly and top dress with a low nitrogen fertilizer. The rhizomes should be dug and divided every 3-5 years to encourage blooming. An added bonus, the divided rhizomes produce more plants! Do not cut the foliage until it dies back in the fall. Do not over fertilize; it is best to use a low nitrogen fertilizer after spring blooming.

More information on growing these beautiful flowers can be found on the American Iris Society website and as well as on The Old Farmer’sAlmanac website.

Irises

As May arrives, so do the beautiful blooms of the irises.

Photo from Master Gardener, Chris Janne

There are hundreds of varieties, both bearded and beardless. Once planted, very little care is required for an abundance of blooms.

When planting the rhizomes, choose a sunny, well drained location.  Amend the soil with bone meal and a good fertilizer 2-3 weeks before planting. Bury the roots but keep the rhizome near the surface. Space the irises about eighteen inches apart with the rhizome facing in the same directions. Once planted the irises rhizome will continue to grow and produce more plants. They will need to be divided about every 3 years, cutting the new growth from the old, discarding the old and replanting or sharing the new. Bearded irises should be divided in July or August. Beardless irises should be divided in early spring or fall. Once the iris bed has matured, there will be plenty to share with friends. All irises are heavy feeders and do best when fed once a year. As with all gardening, a soil test through the Extension Service will determine what nutrients are needed.

The American IrisSociety has detailed information on growing irises and also an Iris Encylopedia with photos and descriptions.

The Garden Department of the Murray Woman’s Club is sponsoring 2^nd Annual Floral and Iris Color Show, Plant Sale and Luncheon at the Clubhouse of the Murray Woman’s Club, 704 Vine Street, Murray, KY. Show registration is from 7:30 am - 9:30 am. You can view the show from 11:00 – 1:30 and enjoy a wonderful luncheon and plant sale from 11:30 – 1:00. For tickets and additional information, you may contact Linda Scott, 270-753-7944 or lscott187@gmail.com

The following are from the Dennis Dreyer Collection.